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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - Namibia |
| Subject: |
Ecology - Census Methods |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Monitoring of Kaokoveld rhinoceros and their movements began in 1982 but has recently, in the past three years. become more intensive. All nature conservation staff and non-government fieldworkers have contributed towards the formation of identikit files on each individual rhinoceros. Day-to-day records of rhinoceros sightings are kept in a comprehensive set of files. These files consist of front- and side-view photographs, ear notches, tail deformities, spoor measurements, localities, calf ages and sex ratios. Movements and home ranges are logged on a map. The feeding ecology and general behaviour of the 'desert' rhinoceros are also recorded. Garth Owen-Smith has recently completed a year census of the rhinoceros, funded by th New York Zoological Society. It was found that five or six rhinoceros still inhabit some of the Damara farms to the extreme east. However, these farmers have littie or no problem with the rhinoceros which tend to remain in the more inaccessible areas. The Damara people have, in fact, shown a great enthusiasm for the recent projects aimed at the protection of the rhinoceros and othe wildlife in Damaraland.
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The Damaraland rhino
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