Save the Rhino International


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Lowveld Orphan rhinos - Update 21 May

Update from Natasha Anderson - Lowveld Rhino Trust - 10 May 2009 (Part 1)

"On Sunday 10 May our rhino monitors were tracking a black rhino cow called Three and her 12-month-old calf. Quietly moving through the bush, they noticed movement about 100 yards away - two armed poachers also tracking the same cow-calf pair. They immediately radioed for National Parks and anti-poaching guard support as our rhino monitors are not armed. Once linked up with armed guards, they moved in on the spoor trail again and found the poachers had actually lost the rhinos' tracks and were now scouting in circles trying to relocate them. The follow-up team split - one to follow the poachers and the other to follow the rhinos. Less than a mile on, the cow and calf had lain down for their midday nap. If the poachers had not lost their spoor, they would almost certainly have been killed. The rhinos' tracks indicated that they had quietly gotten up from their rest and browsed while moving north. The poachers had continued circling to the rhinos' south. Unfortunately, the anti-poaching unit never caught up with the poachers as tracking human spoor in long dry grass is a very difficult task".

Update from Natasha Anderson - Lowveld Rhino Trust - 12 May 2009 (Part 2)

Jiros - Sinikwe's younger brother. Since Sinikwe's calf was killed we have found brother and sister together frequently and will be moving both in the upcoming translocations.

"Two days later the same shoe patterns as seen on Sunday were located following three rhinos - this time a cow with a large calf and a bull. The bull was with the cow to mate and so there is a lot of movement of this group and little rest time to give poachers a chance to catch up. Fortunately again, the poachers did not get close enough to shoot these rhinos but they remain in the same area and the concern is the poachers will definitely search for these animals again this weekend. Extra patrols have been deployed in the hope that the poachers - seeing fresh footprints of anti-poaching scouts in the area - will think better of pursuing these animals again.

Sinikwe, our wounded black rhino cow is now settling down after her shooting and monitors are able to get more than a fleeting glimpse of her. She has a new companion - a young bull with no ear-notches, a previously unrecorded rhino to us.

With any luck these two will stay together and we will capture them both next week. Jiros, Sinikwe's brother, is still in the area.

We have also had a new addition recorded. Angeline, a 15-year-old black rhino cow had a new calf last month. With the calf so small, the mother is very protective and keeping to very thick bush so the monitors were not able to get any clear photos.

Hopefully the weekend will be quiet and we will still have all our rhinos available for translocation over the next few weeks. It is nail-biting!"

Update from Natasha Anderson - Lowveld Rhino Trust - 18 May 2009 (Part 3)

An example of past rhino translocations

"Looks like we all made it through. No poachers' spoor located and no shots reported. Today is final preparation day. Dr Chris Foggin is arriving with his son Greg to set up all the veterinary kit. Lovemore Mungwashu is driving the Merc translocation truck down from Harare. Raoul and Dr Mark Davies will fly in this afternoon (the Husky made it through all its tests!!). Jackson Kamwi, our senior rhino monitor, is coming across from Save Valley. Jackson has probably tracked more rhinos for translocation than any other person anywhere, and his experience and skill is invaluable. Glenton Combes will be here with the Squirrel helicopter Tuesday morning early. The rhino monitors will be locating the priority rhinos today, so they have the best idea where to pick up on them tomorrow morning when the translocation team is set. Here we go!"

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Information and images supplied by the Lowveld Rhino Trust in conjunction with the International Rhino Foundation. Warning; Field updates - some content may be disturbing

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