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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - South Africa |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
White Rhino |
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new survey announced. The rhino populations on private land can make a considerable contribution to overall conservation strategies, and the Rhino and Elephant Foundation contacted Daan Buijs in 1987 to conduct a survey on white rhinos outside official conservation areas. A subsequent survey was carried out by Richard Emslie in 1994.
The original survey traced and recorded the histories of all translocations of white rhino from Natal Provincial Game Reserves, Bop Parks, and private sales. Contrary to popular (and often official) belief, a substantial number of these translocations were not as successful as expected. Various reasons for this were identified, and the findings were instrumental in the revision of Natal Parks Board allocation and pricing strategies.
In the last few decades, black rhino numbers in other African countries have declined alarmingly, and the few remaining animals enjoy intensive protection. These factors have led to an increase in poaching of white rhino in South African Parks and Reserves. As tougher anti-poaching measures were implemented in these protected areas, poachers have recently turned their attention to rhinos on private land.
Many white rhinos have changed hands through auctions and private sales. The present status of white rhino on private land is thus largely unknown. Before the 1987 survey, no black rhinos were present on private land. Since 1990, however, groups of five black rhinos have been auctioned annually by the Natal Parks Board to selected bidders. These populations are increasing and active management of the earlier founder populations will soon become necessary in order to remove mature bulls and rectify skewed sex ratios, This would also prevent mortalities caused by breeding-related aggression.
These factors, as well as the build-up to the next CITES meeting in 1997 - where the listing of rhinos and trading in rhino products are sure to be discussed - have necessitat a new survey to establish the present status of rhinos on private land. The African Rhino Owners Association (AROA) has initiated and undertaken to obtain sponsorship for the 1996 survey. The aims of the survey ore to contribute to rhino conservation through the establishment of rhino management guidelines, to gauge the opinion of rhino owners on responsible utilisation of both block and white rhinos, and to provide official nature conservation authorities, IUCN Rhino Specialist Group and the South African CITES authority, with accurate information.
The Mazda Wildlife Fund has kindly provided a vehicle for the duration of the project and the Rhino & Elephant Foundation, Lapalala Wilderness, the Natal Game Marketing Association, WWF and Thabo Tholo have mode generous contributions to AROA for the survey.
Daan Buijs of the African Wildlife Management Unit of the ARC Range and Forage Institute will again supervise the project, with the help of Theo Papenfus, a B.Sc. Honours graduate in wildlife management, who will conduct the field work. The institute will also provide the infrastructure cind computer facilities necessary for this important survey.
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Survey: rhinos on private land
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