Walker, C.H., 1994. Rhinos in Africa - the present situation.: pp. 1-3
 | 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 |
| Subject: |
Conservation |
| Species: |
African Rhino Species |
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Present rhino populations in government reserves will continue to require enormous funding and serious commitment to security and monitoring. The state must recognise the precious asset these creatures represent.
Establishment of rhino populations in small privately-owned sanctuaries and government reserves as in Kenya, Zimbabwe and more recently in South Africa has great merit. In small areas, round-the-clock surveillance and monitoring are possible and practical, if still expensive. It is essential that animals in such sanctuaries be well away from human settlement and one must have staff who are primarily concerned with rhino. Close co-operation at official security level is essential. One other option - one that a few years ago was subjected to wide criticism - is to translocate rhinos to sanctuaries in far countries such as the United States or Australia. Many people felt that in situ rhino conservation should come first, but let's face it, we have not done well in Africa by any stretch of the imagination. Here again, the case of the white rhino is a good example.
We need a major public relations programme to highlight the situation and urgently promote new, bold and optimistic ideas for rhino conservation. We need to make rhinos relevant to people and make people understand and aware of the benefits of sustainable use. We need to make rhinos easily accessible and desirable to tourists. (Look at what's been done for gorillas.) We need to encourage private sector involvement, try to ensure that private rhino owners do not suffer from the financial and bureaucratic restrictions of government. Look at what people have been prepared to pay for the privilege of owning black rhino, and look what happened when private ownership of white rhino placed a value on them. White rhino are traded like race horses, and hunters can bag one at enormous cost. You and I might not like the idea but it does make a lot of economic sense.
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Rhinos in Africa - the present situation.
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