Black Rhino Range Expansion Project

Black rhino are listed as critically endangered with approximately 3500 individuals left in protected areas today. Most of these animals are in reserves managed by KZN Wildlife Ezemvelo, where the numbers are getting to the point of the lands carry capacity. This is not ideal for increasing the numbers or genetic diversity of the animals. Thus WWF in conjunction with Ezemvelo Wildlife have started the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project. The project aims to increase land available for black rhino conservation, thus reducing pressure on existing reserves and providing new territory in which the animals can rapidly increase in number. In October 2004 Phinda was selected as a suitable area for the expansion project. The contracts where signed and soon afterwards we had 15 black rhino introduced to the reserve, which for the reserve and for CCAfrica was understandably very exciting. The release, to many people, was a significant milestone, which marked the success of the habitat team since 1992, and was a sign of good things to come for Phinda. Post release was successful with no recorded issues, and the animals seemed to settle in a little quicker than we expected with our first arrival in August 2005, a female calf was born in the south of the reserve. In October 2006 due to the success of the previous release and the last minute availability of animals, Phinda was offered a further 3 black rhino. However the release would not be as simple as before due to a resident settled population of Black Rhino. Luckily a newly introduced area to the reserve, Shotton, had no resident population of black rhino, so a fence was quickly erected along the old boundary and the animals where released. So far so good, and the animals seem to be fit and doing very well in their new home.

Posted: Mammals by Wildwatch Editor, Date: 5 June 2007