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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - Namibia |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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In South West Africa/Namibia the black rhinoceros had probably come closest to extinction by 1966 when a census revealed that there were only 90 still permanently resident in the north-west corner of the territory, plus a few vagrants in the western Caprivi along the Kwando River which regularly crossed the Angola and Botswana borders. The Division of Nature Conservation and Tourism acted quickly, and in a well organised campaign from 1970 to 1972 captured 43 that were either threatened by poachers, posed a threat to farmers, or constituted isolated non-viable breeding units, and moved them to suitable habitats within the Etosha National Park. These animals settled down well and some have subsequently been moved from the western part of the park to suitable habitats around the historic fort at Namutoni on the eastern edge. While the black rhinoceros inside the Etosha Park are doing extremely well, with many calves and young animals recently seen, the animals outside are declining rapidly. The Kaokoveld rhinoceros, which, because of the complex political situation in South West Africa, fall outside the jurisdiction of the Nature Conservation Division, are particularly threatened by illegal hunters and there are probably no more than 20 left. Further south, in Damaraland. the situation is little better with reports of poaching on a large scale and estimates of no more than 30 animals left.
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Black rhinoceros in Southern Africa
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