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| Location: |
World |
| Subject: |
Management - Programs |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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If the ideal of maintaining breeding populations of rhino in the full range of their natural habitats becomes outdated as more African nations teeter on the brink of collapse, can the 183 black rhino in 71 zoo populations around the world guarantee that black rhino will not become extinct? Yes - and no. Virtually all zoo black rhino originated in Kenya (D.b. michaeli) which does nothing to preserve the other subspecies or ecotypes of African rhino; the International Union of Zoo Directors and the World Wildlife Fund do not recognise such considerations in their programmes for rhino.
In addition, 19 of these zoo populations consist of a single animal; 22 of a single male and female pair, which doesn't turn either of them on enough to get the reproductive juices flowing; 25 consist of one male with two or more females, which sounds like fun but doesn't produce results. Only five consist of a single female with two or more males - and that is what makes rhino babies. A studbook or Who's Who in rhino reproduction, must also be compiled to keep the genetic material circulating and avoid inbreeding.
But not everyone is content to see black rhino exported from Africa to found safe breeding populations abroad. Game Coin's rhino project, which should have paved the way, got off to a disastrous start when three of five animals imported from Natal died soon after arrival in Texas, as did the first born calf. Accusations of incompetence, neglect and politicking shook up Game Coin's administrative guts and soured the goodwill of the conservation community. All further such projects should now be given the seal of approval by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (AAZPA).
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Rhino's last stand in Africa
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