Zambezi Society, Zimbabwe

 

Location: Matusadona National Park
Project leader: Duncan Purchase
Project partner: Zambezi Society
Rhino numbers: Approximately 13-20 South Central black rhino (Diceros bicornis minor)
Size of protected area: 400 km2
Activities: Monitoring
Support: We help fund the ongoing monitoring of the rhino population
Funding partner: Save Foundation (Australia)

The African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) estimates that there are a total of only 1,995 SouthCentral black rhinoceros (Dicornis bicornis minor) left in the world (as at 31 December 2007). A total of 558 live in Zimbabwe, including a viable population of an estimated 13-20 animals resident in Matusadona National Park (MNP) – the target area of this proposal. These rhinos are protected and monitored through a strong stakeholder partnership between Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) and ZamSoc, which has collaborated on rhino monitoring since 2002.

 

MNP, an unfenced area of 1,370 km², is located on the southern shore of Lake Kariba, which forms the northern boundary of Zimbabwe. The Park is flanked by two large rivers on either side of it flowing into the lake, forming the Park boundaries. Sanyati River runs along the eastern border, while Ume River runs along the western border. The northern third of the Park is relatively flat land extending from the very rugged mountain escarpment to the shoreline. The southern two thirds is made up of rugged mountains forming a very distinct escarpment, eventually flattening out to a plateau in the south. The rhino population ranges over the whole area.

MNP has a long history of rhino conservation. It was designated as an Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ) in 1975 in order to protect the remaining resident population of South Central black rhinoceros in the Park, and also as a refuge for other populations of black rhino in the Zambezi Valley that were being severely threatened by poaching. Anecdotal evidence suggested that the Park had a population numbering 200-400 rhino before the onslaught of poaching. These numbers were significantly reduced during the early 1990s, with only 41 being monitored in 1996, of which the radio signals of 20 could not be located at that time. Since then, a further 10 rhino have been introduced, one of which is known to have been poached and two translocated out of the Park.

MNP comes under the administration of ZPWMA. In 2002, at the request of ZPWMA, ZamSoc got involved in the monitoring of the resident rhino population by initiating a project to provide reliable field information on the population, as this was lacking, and ZPWMA lacked financial and personnel capacity as well as the expertise to undertake the monitoring. The ZamSoc / ZPWMA collaboration was the first case of an external organization being invited to assume the role of autonomous monitoring of rhino in a National Park in Zimbabwe.

To date, ZamSoc has increased its involvement in and staff resources to this activity, and has become the de-facto monitoring facility in MNP. ZamSoc’s commitment includes the provision of a vehicle and staff, including a Technical Advisor and a Field Officer to coordinate two specialised trackers who are permanently based in the Park, and supplying the necessary field equipment and fuel to carry out the monitoring activities. The entire field monitoring team operate independently from ZPWMA; however, the Field Officer reports his activities to the Senior Warden, and an armed National Parks Ranger always accompanies the monitoring team in the field. Ongoing anti-poaching operations are traditionally undertaken by ZPWMA rangers.