Brooks, M., 1983. South Africa celebrates rhino successes. Newsletter of the African Elephant and Rhino Group 2: 15-16
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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - South Africa |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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A game count in 1961 produced a population estimate of 300 for Hluhluwe, with densities ranging from 0.6 to 1.7 rhinos/ km?. The same year a population crash occurred in the north-eastern area of the reserve with 46 animals dying over a four month period. These events were reported by Peter Hitchins who also found that numbers continued to decline in Hluhluwe during the dry cycle of the late 1960s, so that by 1972 the estimate was 199. Over the same period numbers increased to about 129 in Umfolozi. The overall density in 1972 of 0.36 rhinos/ km? for Hluhluwe-Umfolozi was still far higher than found elsewhere in Africa.
No further removals took place until 1977 when it was agreed that a further 20 black rhinos could be made available from Hluhluwe over a 5 year period to large conservation areas within the species former range and where habitat conditions were suitable. In the meantime, we re-assessed the population structure in Hluhluwe and Umfolozi using data from 1975-1977 and found that the sex and age ratios were very similar to those reported in 1972 by Peter Hitchins, and as recorded deaths had decreased we assumed that the population had probably not declined. This assessment was carried out during a high rainfall cycle when black rhinos were unlikely to have been under significant environmental stress, and the removals represented less than the expected rate of increase for Hluhluwe of 5%.
The next dry cycle began in 1977/78, the stocking rates of both grazers and browsers in the reserve were above carrying capacity and the habitat rapidly deteriorated. By 1979 most of the vegetation monitoring sites showed over-utilisation of the browse resources and 5 black rhino deaths were recorded in the late winter in Umfolozi. To pre-empt a population decline such as had occurred in the 1960s, Peter Hitchins and Jeremy Anderson recommended that the black rhino density in Umfolozi should be reduced, and 14 animals were removed in 1980. The dry cycle continued, so in late 1980 Tony Whateley, Jeremy Anderson and I decided to re-sample population structures throughout the area. This was made possible through a donation of helicopter hours by the Endangered Wildlife Trust. A total of 128 rhino, or 37% of the population, were contacted in 19 hours flying. The results were extremely interesting, as the percentages of immature rhino under 3.5 years old in Hluhluwe and Umfolozi (excluding the central corridor) were only 11 % and 8% respectively, and no calves under a year were recorded in Umfolozi.
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South Africa celebrates rhino successes
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