EAZA Rhino Campaign Project 3: Mkomazi Game Reserve

 

Location: Tanzania
Species: Black (Diceros bicornis michaeli)
Coordinator: Tony Fitzjohn, the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust 
Type: Anti-poaching and monitoring
Amount awarded: 25,000 euros

Abstract
The Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary (MRS) is Tanzania’s first rhino sanctuary, holding eight rhino. MRS has considerable potential for establishing a breeding population of D.b. michaeli which should expand to the estimated Maximum Productivity Carrying Capacity of the sanctuary (eMPCC: 20 rhinos). Thereafter, long term planning includes the expansion of the sanctuary area by at least 100%. Along with the two established rhino populations in Tsavo West NP (Ngulia) and the Tsavo East NP (Galana IPZ), the MRS has the potential to re-establish large wild populations of the eastern black rhino in the Tsavo ecosystem. MRS also has the potential to supply surplus animals to reinforce existing populations of D.b.michaeli in northern Tanzania, depending on security and habitat conditions.

The critical step of introduction of more black rhino from Kenyan populations to increase the founder stock in the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary to circa 12 rhinos is the next priority. This should allow rapid population growth, which will then be managed by removing groups of animals when the population exceeds its estimated eMPCC or by extending the sanctuary.

Discussion is taking place with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the Tanzanian Director of Wildlife, the Director General of Tanzanian National Parks (TANAPA) and the Kenya Wildlife Services on the possibility of translocations of rhino from the more successful sanctuaries in Kenya to MRS. This was presented at a Kenya Wildlife Service meeting concerning rhino in early 2007 by Danny Woodley, Senior KWS Warden, Tsavo West National Park.

It is also being proposed that the rhino populations of northern Tanzania be managed as one meta-population, and the MRS plays a significant role in the future of the management of this population.

The proposal to EAZA focuses on the practicalities and logistics of keeping the MRS maintained to a high standard as the rhino population increases.

With the inclusion and active participation of the MRS and GAWPT within the Tanzanian Rhino Conservation Programme, and its membership of the Tanzanian Rhino Conservation Steering Committee, the MRS rhino population is already an integral component of Tanzania’s efforts to recover and breed up viable populations of D.b. michaeli in Tanzania over the next few decades.

Support
Equipment is desperately needed to keep the maintenance of the MRS up to a high standard. The existing Massey Ferguson tractor is now 18 years old and is in need of replacement.

For a six week period, twice a year, the tractor will be employed cutting firebreaks, access and tracking roads, external firebreaks, airstrips and external security outpost areas. It will be fitted with a trailer to be used for murram-ing roads, movement of personnel, movement of cement and sand. It will also be used for movement of poles; the MRS fence was constructed between 1995 and 1997, so the imported talinised poles (over 10,000) are in constant need of repair. The tractor will also be employed for upkeep of monitoring areas in open spaces.