Introduction to Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe

Matusadona National Park, in the northwest of Zimbabwe, is home to an estimated 40 black rhino (Diceros bicornis minor). The Park as a whole is run by Zimbabwe's Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, while the intensive rhino monitoring effort is supported by the Zambezi Society.

An immobilisation operation, during which up to 30 rhinos will have horn transmitters implanted and ears notched to aid identification, is timetabled for July 2006. The last black rhino census and ear-notching operation in Matusadona occurred in October 2000. This operation was so severely compromised by a paucity of ground information and the delayed deployment of rangers into the field as to be almost without worth. It was subsequent to this operation that the then Acting Director General of the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (PWLM) formally invited the Zambezi Society to undertake detailed follow up activities to determine the numbers and distribution of black rhino within MNP. This then led to the development by the Zambezi Society of the now well-established and locally reputed ground monitoring system of black rhino.

By the close of 2003, the first ever distribution map of black rhino in Matusadona had been produced using data collected from indirect surveys. During 2004 experienced trackers collected a second year of data as a precursor to a comprehensive census and ear-notching operation in 2005. For various reasons, the 2005 operation was suspended at the last minute. However the existing funds (primarily a donation of £5,000 by Ecko Unlimited) were reallocated, with the agreement of SRI, to further intensive rhino-monitoring, as a precursor to a definitive census and ear-notching in 2006.

Although the indirect monitoring has successfully provided data on distribution and to some extent, on numbers, it is still necessary to earnotch the omitted adults and new sub adults (those recruited since 2000). If the Matusadona black rhinos are not uniquely identified by ear-notching or microchip implant they cannot be added to the Zimbabwe National Rhino Database, and hence cannot become part of the meta-population management. This situation will compromise the long-term future of a significant black rhino population at a strategic and planning level.

Rhinos living on the fringe of an intensive protection zone are at risk in Zimbabwe. Matusadona has a number of rhino that either live on the outskirts of the protection zone, or who commute in and out of the Park. These animals urgently need horn transmitters that they can be monitored and protected effectively.  A rhino recently walked out of Matusadona into the surrounding communal areas (a distance of at least 70 km). He would sleep close to villages where it would have only been a matter of time before word got out that a potential rhino horn was available for the taking. The Zambezi Society has since organised for a transmitter to be implanted in the horn of this animal so that it can be immediately located should it leave the Park again.

As the Zambezi Society is committed to rhino protection for the long term, it considers follow up monitoring an essential part of this object. The Zambezi Society has an ideal aircraft to enable effective monitoring over a very large area, but an increasing shortage of suitable pilots in Zimbabwe is beginning to threaten this capacity. Thus an urgent pilot training component has been incorporated into this project in order to ensure that the Zambezi Society will retain the essential skills to undertake the monthly aerial surveys of the rhino population in MNP.

Save the Rhino International is supporting the post-operation rhino monitoring programme with a grant of £10,000.