 Reference Base  Conservation and management of black rhinoceros in South ... |
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Hall-Martin, A.; Knight, M.H., 1994. Conservation and management of black rhinoceros in South African national parks: pp. 11-19, figs. 1-2, tables 1-2
 | In: Penzhorn, B.L. et al. Proceedings of a symposium on rhinos as game ranch animals. Onderstepoort, Republic of South Africa, 9-10 September 1994: pp. i-iv, 1-242 |
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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - South Africa |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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The last original Kruger black rhino was seen in 1936 . Between 1971 and 1988 a total of 82 animals were repatriated to the Southern District of the KNP from Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, Mkuzi and Ndumu Game Reserves in Natal, the Zambezi Valley in Zimbabwe, and from the ZimbabweMozambique border area north of the KNP (Fig. 2). The population has increased to <200 animals, making it the second largest population after Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Complex. The original founder population of 82 animals is large enough to offer both genetic and demographic viability and stability for the long-term (> 200 years). Moreover, with the founders originating from four separate original populations, the KN P D. b. minor population is genetically the most diverse in South Africa.
Since their introduction the policy of non-intervention has been advocated, with the objective of allowing the population to increase as rapidly as possible. Because of Kruger's large size and the wide range of suitable black rhino habitats, it has the potential to become the largest population in South Africa with more than 3000 animals (Table 1), hence its importance in the regional conservation plan. The population has only been monitored through the annual aerial survey of the park. Like similar aerial surveys of other savanna systems, this has unfortunately proved unsuccessful in effectively estimating rhino population sizes (Viljoen pers comm.). However, more precise estimates of population increase, inter-calving intervals, dispersion patterns not obtainable from the wider survey were estimated through the monitoring a specific subpopulation (of which some of the animals were fitted with radio transmitters) in the Skukuza area on a more regular basis over a number of years. Although the sample was restricted to a single subpopulation it reflected a locally healthy population situation which is probably not found elsewhere in the park owing to a distorted sex ratio in favour of males. Hopefully, in the near future, the 'mark-recapture' monitoring programme RHINO, that involves ranger sighting returns, would be implemented to supplement the aerial census data.
As the population is very much in its initial growth stages and expansion, transfers of animals from the park has not been advocated. However, during 1993 two animals were repatriated to Liwonde National Park in Malawi, and a further four went to Marakele National Park. During 1994 an additional five animals are to be removed from KNP to supplement the Marakele population (Fig. 2). Most of these animals have and will be in the future removed from unstable border areas where the chances of illegal hunting are greatest (Pienaar pers comm.)
Source of animals indicated in figure 2:
Mozambique-Zimbabwe border 2 1960's
Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe 13 1972
Ndumu 10 1989
Mkuzi 2 1981
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi 55 1971-1982
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