Relocating rhinos to the road to recovery

October 3rd, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

A daring new plan to move rhinos from a small sanctuary site to a large new one, where it is hoped that they will thrive and multiply, has begun.

Black Rhino

For the first time in over 25 years, captive-bred black rhinos have been released back into the wild in Kenya after an intensive protection zone was setup.

In total fifteen rhinos are being moved from Nguila – one of Kenya’s main reserves based in Tsavo West – into a secret valley to manage their own population and, ideally, expand it naturally.

Prior to being moved, the animals are being sedated by a team of specialists who will place GPS satellite transmitters in their horns to track their progress and to make sure that they are not being poached in their new home.

All the rhinos are from the same herd to ensure that when they wake up from sedation they see familiar faces. They all undergo thorough health checks to make sure that they are healthy and not pregnant – as they cannot be moved if this is the case.

This is a big milestone in the Kenyan Rhino Conservation Plan and initiated by Kenyan Wildlife Service and ZSL who have been working with the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group for five years on the biological management programme.

In Kenya, black rhino numbers dropped from an estimated 20,000 to just 350 within two decades. This drastic decline was mainly due to poaching for their horn, which took place unabatedly inside and outside protected areas, parks and reserves.

However in a turn around for the better the numbers of rhinos now continue to increase within sanctuaries and Kenya Wildlife Service areas, at an annual rate of 4-5%. Currently, the total population of black rhinos in Africa is estimated at 3100, according to African Rhino Specialist Group.

Dr Raj Amin, ZSL’s coordinator of the black rhino programme, says: ‘With further releases, and a naturally growing population, ZSL is hoping that Kenya could have as many as 220 free-ranging rhinos in five years, with a long-term aim of getting numbers up to about 2,000 across the country.’

If the black rhino programme is a success, the aim is to start moving some of the animals into Tanzania and Uganda.