 Reference Base  Behaviour of large mammals during the formation of Lake K... |
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Child, G., 1968. Behaviour of large mammals during the formation of Lake Kariba. Salisbury and Bulawayo, Trustees of the National Museums of Rhodesia, pp. i-vi, 1-123
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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - Zimbabwe |
| Subject: |
Ecology - Population |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Localised habits also contributed to their being marooned on islands. Six marked individuals were contacted after release, and all were within four miles of the release point. An adult male seen at the north eastern corner of the Umniati West bush clearing, had been noted in this area on several occasions by Mr. Stokes, the Ranger in charge of the area. It was then 3.5 miles from where it had been released six months before, which probably represented its maximum movements in 11 months, as it became marooned for a second time when Island 100 formed between this locality and the release point, in March, 1961.
In this general area, two marked rhino were seen after 'a couple of months' within 'a few miles' of the release point. One of these animals was later contacted one and a half miles from the release point a year after release, but the other died in the area in the meantime (Dr. H. Roth, pers. comm.).
An adult female was retaken on Ukubula Island, which formed nine months after its release. The break through giving rise to this island was four miles from the release point. An adult male from this island has remained within 'about five miles' for several months since its release (Warden P. Coctsce, pers. comm.) and another, liberated on the east bank of the Sengwa River, was contacted five months after release when it had moved less than three miles into the nearest suitable habitat.
On 16 April, 1961, an adult rhino was disturbed by a boat and ran about 1 mile into a bush clearing, but then slowed down and circled round, so that it headed back in the direction whence it came. When lost from sight, it was almost back in the same clump of trees from which it had been disturbed.
Small home ranges seem to be normal for black rhino, which frequently defecate in the same place, as Dean (op. cit.), basing his conclusions on recognizable individuals in Hluhluwe, notes that 'For the greater part (black) rhino have very definite home ranges in which they appear to spend the greater part of their lives. I do not consider the home range to be in excess of six square miles and often as little as four square miles. An important factor controlling the size of the home range here is probably the availability of water. In most parts of the reserve even in dry years, no greet distance need be traveled to find it. I have only one record of a cow and calf leaving their normal home range for another area, eight miles away, crossing a river (presumably with little water) to do so where they have since remained permanently.'
There were two male rhino in the Nagupande Tsetse Area and these remained in a small area of about 12 square miles for 12 months after selective, but intensive hunting (approximately one hunter per 3.5 square miles) began in the area. They then moved 13 miles and left the area, breaking through the game fence surrounding it, (Mr. J. Kerr, pers. comm). A male with a peculiar kink in its tail was observed in July, 1963, and was reported to have remained within half a mile of the confluence of a small tributary and the Luangwa River, during the dry season, for at least two years, although during the rains it may have been forced a mile or so from the Luangwa by the inundation of the flood plain. This animal was seen by the author within one mile of the same locality 14 months later, in September, 1964.
This evidence indicates rhino are generally fairly localised although the availability of open water probably determines the size of the home range as Dean has suggested. Ritchie (1963) indicates they wander five to 15 miles from water to feed in parts of Kenya, as well defined rhino paths lead out this distance from water holes. Stockley (1950) and Ripley (1958) have gone as far as to describe them as territorial, on account of their defecating on middens and then scattering their dung with their feet. Although rhino do occasionally fight, the active defense of territories needs substantiating in view of the small amount of aggressive behaviour found by Roth and Child, when rhino populations became compressed on to islands at Kariba. Further, Ripley (1952) has suggested that the great Indian rhino are also territorial as they too have middens, but Gee (1953) disagrees, as several animals may use the same dung heaps and this author suggests they may play a role in establishing social hierarchies within a group.
Black rhino are probably susceptible to abnormal floods where these affect the greater part of their home range, even if the water is only a foot or so deep. A female and calf drowned in this much water within a few days of an island submerging, indicating it is essential for rhino to lie down, as they often do, when sleeping.
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