Update from North Luangwa Conservation Programme, October 2006
We are delighted to report the birth of a calf to Julila, a black rhino from Kruger National Park, South Africa, recently reintroduced into North Luangwa National Park. This is only the second black rhino birth on Zambian soil within the last two decades.
Following the successful re-introduction of five black rhinos into a fenced sanctuary in North Luangwa National Park in 2003, and the birth of the first calf in early 2005, an additional ten individuals – three males and seven females, of which one was Julila - were flown in from South Africa on the 4th and 6th of June this year.
Julila was pregnant upon arrival and settled quickly into her boma routine. A radio transmitter was implanted in her horn on the 18th of June and she was released two days later. On the 22nd of June, we discovered that she had wandered out of the sanctuary, by passing through a small seasonal gulley under the fence. After discussing the advantages and disadvantages, it was decided in the first week of July to try to herd her back into the sanctuary. This was achieved with relative ease using a helicopter, but two days later, she again broke out of the sanctuary and headed to the area where she had settled previously. On this occasion, we opted to leave her alone, fearing that a second attempt to bring her back into the sanctuary might result in the loss of her calf. The Mwaleshi River, close to where she has settled, flows year round and so we know she will not lack water. A patrol team was permanently deployed on the Muchinga escarpment overlooking her area.
On Friday 6th October, we received a message that Wildlife Police Officers George Mukuka, Kennedy Kabwe and Tiza Kapolyo had found the spoor of a small rhino, while on patrol. Shortly after hearing the report, Jessica accompanied two rhino monitoring scouts and two members of the patrol team to the site where the spoor was found and took the photo attached (the pen is 14cm in length).
We have not yet attempted to see the calf, wishing not to disturb them. However, the size of the calf’s tracks indicate that it is more than a few weeks old and that the pair can soon be monitored under the same system established for all the rhinos.
The calf will be named by schoolchildren inhabiting the neighbouring Mukungule Game Management Area on the 27th of October: a naming competition will be organized as part of a larger event for the schools participating in the NLCP Environmental Education Programme.
We will keep you informed of the calf’s progress!
Acknowledgements
It is thanks to the quiet, round-the-clock dedication of ZAWA’s scouts and wildlife police officers that the reintroduction of black rhino to North Luangwa was made possible in the first place. Many thanks to George Mukuka, Kennedy Kabwe and Tiza Kapolyo who brought the excellent news on this occasion.
The reintroduction of black rhinos into North Luangwa National Park is an international conservation initiative between the Governments of Zambia and South Africa, under the umbrella of the SADC Regional Rhino Programme. Implementing organizations include ZAWA, South African National Parks, the South African North West Parks and Eastern Cape Parks Boards, Frankfurt Zoological Society’s North Luangwa Conservation Programme, and Frankfurt Zoo. Main financial support for the programme has been provided by Conservation Foundation Zambia, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Save the Rhino Trust Zambia, the Beit Trust, David Back, the Prince Bernhard Fund for Nature, and the Frankfurt Zoological Society. All rhinos were donated by South Africa, marking a truly historic regional cooperative conservation effort that not only furthers the conservation status of the endangered black rhino, but also forges important bonds between the respective wildlife authorities – reaching across national boundaries to protect and conserve our common natural heritage.
Finally, the reintroduction has been made possible by the hard work of many individuals and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you personally for the important roles you have played . It has been, and will continue to be, very much a team effort.
Kind regards,
Jessica Groenendijk
Technical Advisor – Monitoring and Ecology
North Luangwa Conservation Programme
Frankfurt Zoological Society
Frank Hajek
Chief Technical Advisor
North Luangwa Conservation Programme
Frankfurt Zoological Society
North Luangwa National Park, 14 October 2006