01 Nov
2006 - KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – Twelve black
rhino have recently been released into a game
reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, forming the
third founder population of a rhino conservation
project.
As part of the Black Rhino Range
Expansion Project — a partnership between WWF
and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife — the rhinos were released
in the Pongola Game Reserve on 13,000ha of land
made up of six neighbouring properties. This adds
to 80,000ha of land in KwaZulu-Natal that have
been set aside especially for black rhino conservation.
The black rhino, which used
to be the most numerous rhino species in the world,
became critically endangered following a catastrophic
poaching wave in the 1970s and 1980s that wiped
out 96 per cent of Africa’s wild black rhino population
in only 20 years. At the lowest point, there were
just 2,500 black rhinos left. Today, thanks to
conservation efforts, numbers have increased to
about 3,600.
The WWF-supported rhino project
aims to increase black rhino numbers by increasing
the land available for their conservation, thus
reducing pressure on existing reserves and providing
new areas in which they can breed rapidly.
“This is best for rapid population
growth, essential for the long-term health of
a critically endangered species,” said WWF project
leader Dr Jacques Flamand.
In particular, the project facilitates
partnerships between neighbouring landowners in
order to create large tracts of suitable land
required for a viable rhino population. The black
rhino feeds on woody twigs and legumes, and a
wide variety of plant species, especially acacia
trees.
“For many landowners this has
required a brave sacrifice,” said Dr Jacques Flamand.
“They have given up a degree of independence by
taking down fences with their neighbours, and
in some cases, have temporarily lost valuable
income by giving up cattle farming. By doing so
they are significantly contributing to the protection
of black rhino on their land.”
The project’s first founder
population of 15 rhinos was released on to Mun-ya-wana
Game Reserve in 2004. The second population of
21 animals was released on to Zululand Rhino Reserve
in 2005. Both reserves were created by a number
of neighbouring landholders agreeing to amalgamate
their properties in order to receive black rhino
from the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife authority.
Other areas to expand the rhino’s
range are currently being considered, including
one which could link to the Weenen Nature Reserve
and one with links to the Pongola Game Reserve
and Zululand Rhino Reserve.
“Through the Black Rhino Range
Expansion Project we hope to make communities
real stakeholders in conservation,” said Dr Flamand.
“This is very important for the long-term security
of the black rhino and other endangered species.”
END NOTES:
• Black rhino are browsers,
using their pointed upper lips like a miniature
elephant trunk to twist off low-growing branches
of trees and shrubs. They can grow to 1.6 metres
tall, weigh up to one and a half tons and run
at 55km/hour.
• There are four black rhino
subspecies: the southern-central black rhino (Diceros
bicornis minor), the south-western black rhino
(D.b. bicornis), adapted to the arid and semi-arid
savannas of Namibia, southern Angola, western
Botswana and western South Africa, the East African
black rhino (D.b. michaeli), now found mostly
in Kenya, and the west African black rhino (D.b.
longipes), the rarest and most endangered subspecies,
now found in northern Cameroon.
• Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is KwaZulu-Natal's
conservation management agency, mandated with
ensuring that the province's natural heritage
is preserved. The WWF/Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Black
Rhino Range Expansion Project is made possible
through funding from WWF-Netherlands, through
WWF-South Africa, and is supported by the Mazda
Wildlife Fund.
Pam Sherriffs, Communications
Manager
Black Rhino Range Expansion Project
Dr Jacques Flamand, Project
Leader
Black Rhino Range Expansion Project
