Jachman, H., 1984. Status of the Mwabvi rhino (Diceros bicornis). Nyala 10 (2): 77-90, figs. 1-8, table 1
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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - Malawi |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Mwabvi is an important conservation area, firstly because it contains some of the last Malawi rhino, secondly because it contains the rare Nyala and Sable antelope, thirdly because it forms part of the extensive home ranges of several packs of African wild hunting dog and fourthly because it is a major water-catchment area. Most of the Reserve is not suitable for cultivation, while the presence of the tse-tse fly and the water shortage during the dry season also restrict human habitation. The following management recommendations should be considered:
1. The game scouts should be transferred to other conservation areas in Malawi and the Reserve re-staffed.
2. A game ranger should be based at Mwabvi camp. He should be provided with housing.
3 The number of game scouts should be increased by at least one per camp. In this way one scout can be off to collect food, while the other two are on patrol. if possible, more scouts should be based at Mwabvi camp as it is situated in the centre of the rhino area.
4. The scouts should be provided with sturdy bicycles.
5. Patrols should not be carried out following fixed routes, and should include the thicket areas. Patrols should be made daily.
6. Carriers working for the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and living in the
villages of the extension area should be discharged, as all law enforcement activities are directly passed on to the hunters in these communities.
7. The Department should organise food transport into the Reserve every fortnight or
at least once a month at pay-day.
8. If the extension area is not administered by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, the original Reserve should be increased by 22 kmy , altering the boundary in those places where the rhino distribution overlaps the old extension. The present pattern of human habitation can thus, be maintained.
9. Depending under whose administrative responsibility the extension area comes, a firewood cutting scheme should be proposed to prevent excessive tree clearing. This would reduce the erosion of the lower elevations of the valley.
10. The Department should immediately look into development of fuel supplies for the rapidly expanding population of the Lower Shire vallev. The possibility of using the indigenous woodlands of both the extension area of Lengwe and Mwabvi should be consid- ered.
11. The Department should carry out research as to the effect of early burning on the food availability for rhino and other browsers in the Reserve. Of particular interest would be a study of food competition between Nyala and rhino.
12. The infrastructure of the Reserve should be developed to provide access for tourists
and law enforcement activities.
13. Translocation of the Mwabvi rhino should never be considered. Firstly because the
operation would be too costly, giving the density of the vegetation and shyness of the ani- mals, secondly, because numbers of rhino are too low to start a viable new population and thirdly, because at the same expense and with similar veterinary difficulties fresh stock could be introduced somewhere else in Malawi from areas like the Luangwa vallev in Zambia.
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Status of the Mwabvi rhino (Diceros bicornis)
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