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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Reasons for low numbers:
1. Human disturbance in the form of illegal hunting and trespassing. Both act through decreasing the habitat available, compressing the rhino in the dense cover of the thicket vegetation and reducing numbers by direct killing of animals. During Parker's survey (1976), I estimate that there were presumably at least 10 rhino in Mwabvi. This means that the aerial survey result was low by at least a factor of 2.5.
2. Water availability during most of the dry season is restricted to a small number of
permanent waterholes of which those that are easily available are situated in an area of about 1 kmy.
3. Food availability during the latter part of the dry season is restricted to mainly woody browse. In addition, early dry season burning may even further reduce food availability for rhino during this time of year.
4. Possible predation of young rhino by lions.
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Status of the Mwabvi rhino (Diceros bicornis)
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