Save the Rhino International


	£67 enables resources for when a crucial rhino sighting is required

Lowveld Rhino Trust - 17 June 2009

Update from Natasha Anderson - Lowveld Rhino Trust - 7 June 2009

"We translocated 22 in the end from Bubiana. It was a relief to get each rhino out but some deserve special mention:

Rosemary is the seven-year-old female calf of Myrtle who was poached in November 2008 along with her young calf at the time, Mint. Myrtle's sub-adult Basil was poached in December 2008 leaving Rosemary as her only known offspring surviving in Bubiana.

With Rosemary was Figtree - Marula's calf of 2005. Marula and Myrtle were best friends and were always found close to each other so it is no surprise these two were together. Marula and her current calf Cassia were also translocated.

Sinikwe's mother Ulemule and her sub-adult calf Serina (Sinikwe's sister) were found on a property to the west of where she normally lives. With Ulemule, Sinikwe, Jiros and Serina moved the whole Ulemule family is now relocated to Bubye. We also got both our local big heavies - Dozer and Ganya. Dozer had a number of new scars indicating he had been scrapping recently with Ganya.

Sadly the numbers on Rocky Glen and Boulder Creek (where monitoring is performed by the property owners) were much lower than hoped. Management there had said they had about 15 rhinos (out of 45 18 months ago) but we only found five. This is a disturbing example of what can happen when monitoring is not adequate. We found five carcasses while searching for rhinos to translocate".

Update from Natasha Anderson - Lowveld Rhino Trust - 21 May 2009

"The translocation op is off to a good start. On day one we found the cow and calf that the poachers have been putting so much effort into chasing. We have better trackers (and a Squirrel helicopter), so we won and the two have been captured and released in safer environs.

Yesterday was even better - trackers found Jiros (Sinikwe's brother). Once he was disturbed by the fixed wing he ran to Sinikwe, so then we knew where she was. Once Jiros was on the back of the truck, Raoul found Sinikwe again - waiting pretty much where she was when we darted Jiros. Sinikwe, disturbed by the circling fixed wing, also ran off looking for reassuring company and lead us straight to another young bull. So we moved all three".

www.justgiving.com/crisiszimbabwe

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

£67 enables resources for when a crucial rhino sighting is required