|
|
|
|
| |
| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - South Africa |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
 |
|
A population of black rhino of the Kenyan subspecies Diceros bicornis michaeli occurs in the Addo Elephant National Park of South Africa. These animals (now a population of 17) are descended from four wild caught Kenyan animals which were translocated in 1961 and 1962. The details of their introduction and initial management can be found in Hall-Martin and Penzhorn (1977). In late 1977 the park area available to these black rhino was enlarged to the present 8596 ha. The rhino are free-ranging in this area which also supports populations of other large niammals .
Table: Large mammals in Addo, numbers
1978 1979 1981 1983 1985 1986
Black rhino 9 11 16 19 16 17
During September 1977 a regrettable introduction of three bulls from Natal, of the subspecies D. b. minor, was made. One of these bulls had only one external ear. As this was thought to be due to a genetic condition (known from elsewhere in Africa - Goddard, 1969; Hitchins, this issue) the bull was immobilised and castrated in 1979. Later observa- tioris of the castrated bull attempting to mate with cows, and keeping other bulls away from them, led to him being shot. The other two D. b. minor bulls were removed in May 1981, in compliance with a resolution of the African Rhino Specialist Group of IUCN/SSC taken at its Kilaguni, Kenya meeting in 1980.
A further consequence of the decisicon of the National Parks Board of Trustees of South Africa to implement the SSC resolution was that three calves, possibly sired by Natal bulls, were removed from the Park in May 1983. These three animals were exchanged with the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria for an adult cow of the subspecies D. b. michaeli. The transfer of this cow from a zoo to the wild was not successful and she died after three months at Addo.
The remaining animals, all pure D. b. michaeli, have been undisturbed since 1983 and their prospects for the future are good.
With the improvement in their circumstances it can be expected that the Addo black rhino population will increase at about 10% per annum. The carrying capacity for Addo has not yet been calculated. However, it would seem that a case could be made for the translocation of surplus black rhino from Addo within the next decade.
No firm decision has yet been taken on what could become of surplus animals from Addo. The demand for animals to found other populations in protected areas would most likely be regarded as sufficient justification for removing black rhino from Addo. Enlargements to Addo, by the purchase of surrounding land, could ensure that a larger population, ultimately delivering more animals for translocation, could be maintained.
|
|
|
Recruitment in a small black rhino population
File available
details
Original text on this topic: