EAZA Rhino Campaign Project C: Re-establishment of black rhino
Location: Noth Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Species: Black (Diceris bicornis minor)
Coordinator: Hugo van der Westhuizen
Type: Anti-poaching, monitoring, environmental education
Amount awarded: 16,800 euros
Abstract
Historically Zambia was one of the major range states for black rhinos. The stronghold of black rhinos in Zambia, with population estimates ranging from a minimum of 4,000 to possibly as many as 12,000 animals, used to be the Luangwa Valley, located in the eastern part of Zambia. Due to heavy poaching in the late 1970s and 80s, black rhinos were declared “presumed nationally extinct” in 1998.
As the remote and wild North Luangwa National Park never received any official protection and was a stronghold for poachers, the North Luangwa Conservation Project (NLCP) was initiated in 1989 with the goal to support and strengthen the local wildlife authority (ZAWA) to enable it to manage and conserve effectively the Park and the Game Management Areas surrounding the Park.
Eighteen years of support led to the situation where wildlife numbers showed a steady and ongoing increase and poaching had been brought under control. The point had been reached where it was felt that a reintroduction of black rhinos was a feasible and natural next step in the ongoing conservations efforts of NLCP and ZAWA in North Luangwa NP. In 2003, five black rhinos were reintroduced to a 55 km2 fenced sanctuary. This reintroduction was just the first step towards the goal of establishing a population of at least 20 founders in the Park within three years.
Security and monitoring of the reintroduced rhino is obviously a very high priority and the expansion of the current sanctuary to enclose an additional 150 km2 requires additional personnel and equipment. A very cost- and personnel-effective way of adding to the security offered by traditional foot patrols in the sanctuary and wider Intensive Protection Zone is the use of observation posts on high ground. One such observation post already exists, adjacent to the first rhino sanctuary, and ZAWA personnel equipped with binoculars and night-vision equipment are able to scan the sanctuary and surrounding areas on a 24-hour basis.
Support
The EAZA Rhino Campaign will pay for two more observation posts, together with the equipment needed to monitor the new section of the sanctuary. In addition, it will pay for NLCP and ZAWA to re-issue conservation education materials, which were originally developed for the education of the local communities, especially children. It is important to make them aware of the conservation value of the rhinos and the project and to show them that the project has established a sense of partnership between communities and the Wildlife Authority. These materials (colouring books) will have new information and an update on the history of the rhino project to date.
Outcome
To read about the outcome of this grant, click here.