Dvůr Králové Zoo and WAZA‑Branded Rhino Conservation Projects
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October 2010 | Cologne/Köln 53 Dvůr Králové Zoo and WAZA ‑branded Rhino Conservation Projects Dana Holečková – Director, Dvůr Králové Zoo Preface Reintroduction of the eas‑ (D. b. longipes) was exterminated by tern black rhino (Diceros bi‑ 2006 (see Table 2), while the eastern Founded in 1946, Dvůr Králové Zoo cornis michaeli) to Mkomazi, black rhino (D. b. michaeli), occurring has been specialising in keeping and Tanzania, WAZA Conserva‑ only in Kenya and Tanzania, became breeding African wildlife. Throughout tion Project No 080013 the most vulnerable form. While the 1970s, the zoo imported a number Kenya was home to 20,000 rhinos of mammal and bird species within still in 1970, in the 1980s the numbers several expeditions, fundamental for The development of the dropped to less than 350 individuals unique collections established later. black rhino population in the (Table 3). Tanzania had in 1995 a mere Dvůr Králové Zoo is the world’s most wild: brief summary 32 animals, which in fact involved two successful breeder of giraffes, a num- localities – the Ngorongoro crater ber of antelope and zebra species In 1900, there ranged several hun- and Serengeti National Park (Table 4). and African wild dogs, as well as black dred thousand black rhinos (Diceros rhinoceroses that were successfully bicornis) in Africa. Within 22 years In Kenya, first fenced rhino conser- reproduced in the fifth generation in (1970 to 1992), 96% of wild popula- vation areas were founded in the captivity for the first time around the tion of this species was extirpated, late 20 century, which subsequently world, plus is the only captive institu- particularly as a result of poaching became strongholds of the species tion where northern white rhinos (see Figure 1 and Table 1 for more and inspiration for Tony Fitzjohn’s have been born and raised in captivity details). Of the four subspecies, one idea to restore the population of the successfully. The zoo has returned black rhino in northern Tanzania in over 100 Cape buffalos, several doz- the Mkomazi Reserve. ens of roan antelopes and multiple sable antelopes, scimitar -horned oryxes and addaxes back to the wild Figure 1: DevelopmentFigure 1: Development of the wild blackof the rhino wild populationblack rhino since popul 1960ation since 1960 within the recent 20 years. With 48 (17.31) rhinos of three species and four subspecies, Dvůr Králové follows Development of the wild black rhino population since 1960 San Diego Wild Animal Park in terms of numbers of rhinos held and bred in 100000 captivity. With a total of seven rhinos 90000 relocated to Africa under two projects within a single year, which is a record 80000 number in terms of zoo community 70000 involvement in rhino conservation, Dvůr Králové has been striving to 60000 fulfil one of the key missions of mem- Numbers 50000 bers of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums in a very pro‑active 40000 manner. 30000 In 2009, Tanzania and Kenya became 20000 target countries within two rhino 10000 conservation operations completed by Dvůr Králové branded as WAZA 0 conservation projects. 1960 1970 1980 1984 1987 1991 1992 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2008 Year 54 Proceedings of 65th Annual Conference Table 1: Development of the black rhino population in the wild Table 1: Development of the black rhino population in the wild Year 1800 1900 1960 1970 1980 1984 1987 1991 1992 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Numbers Over 1 Several Over 65,000 14,785 8,800 3,665 3,450 2,475 2,300 2,410 2,600 2,700 3,100 3,610 3,750 4,230 million hundred 100,000 thousands Table 2: Development of the black rhino population in the wild, 1984–2008 Table 2: Development of the black rhino population in the wild, 1984-2007 Species (subspecies) / Year 1984 1993 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 South-western (D. b. bicornis) 737 560 740 740 943 1,310 1,221 1,550 Eastern (D. b. michaeli) 490 500 485 485 498 520 639 700 South-central (D. b. minor) 1,467 1,300 1,365 1,365 1,651 1,770 1,866 1,995 Western (D. b. longipes) About 10 40 10 About 10 8 5 0 ? 0 Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) 2,704 2,400 2,600 2,700 3,100 3,610 3,726 4,240 Table Table3: Development 3: Development of the black rhino of population the black in Kenya rhino since 1968abundance in Kenya since 1968 Year 1968 1970 1977 1980 1984 1987 1991 1992 1995 1997 2002 2003 2005 2007 2008 Numbers 11,000 2,500 1,800 1,500 550 381 398 414 420 424 430 437 539 577 609 Table 4: Development of the black rhino population in Tanzania since 1970 Table 4: Development of the black rhino abundance in Tanzania since 1970 Year 1970 1980 1984 1987 1991 1992 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Numbers 10,000 3,795 3,130 275 185 ? 127 32 46 47 49 66 101 123 Table 5: BlackBirths rhinosin the blackborn rhinoand aborted at Dvur in Kralove Dvůr Králové Zoo prior to 30 November 2010 (M - male, F - Brief history of the female) DK Sex Name Conceived Birth Dam Sire Comments eastern black rhino stock 1 F Elvira DK 1 20 Jul 1976 2 Oct 1977 Elsa Ken at Dvůr Králové Zoo 2 F Sali DK 2 15 Apr 1977 5 Jul 1978 Sabi Ken 3 M Jimm DK 3 6 Dec 1977 18 Mar 1979 Jimmi King The Dvůr Králové black rhino breed- 4 M Eli DK 4 20 Feb 1983 15 May 1984 Elvira Isis 5 F Jessi DK 5 4 Aug 1983 8 Dec 1984 Jimmi Isis ing history began with wild‑caught 6 M Sado DK 6 21 Apr 1985 26 Aug 1986 Sali Isis juvenile animals coming from Kenya 7 M Jos DK 7 13 Feb 1988 21 May 1989 Jimmi Isis 28 kg in 1971, with first ten (4.6) animals 8 F Sany DK 8 28 Jun 1988 1 Oct 1989 Sali Isis 9 F Eimi DK 9 29 May 1989 24 Aug 1990 Elvira Isis imported from Tsavo National Park, 10 M Jacob DK 10 8 Apr 1990 23 Jun 1991 Jessi Eli from which a pair was supplied to 11 M Jasper DK 11 11 Jun 1990 13 Sep 1991 Jimmi Isis Florida (USA) one year after. In 1974, 12 F Sara DK 12 22 Nov 1990 24 Feb 1992 Sali Jimm 13 F Etna DK 13 21 Sep 1991 8 Dec 1992 Elvira Jimm additional trio (1.2) was imported 14 F Jaga DK 14 1 Sep 1991 14 Dec 1992 Jarca Jimm 26 kg on day 2 from Kenya; in the same year, 4 (2.2) 15 F -- DK 15 8 Feb 1993 11 Apr 1994 Jimmi Mabu stillborn, 24 kg animals left to Wroclaw (Poland), 16 M Sauron DK 16 16 Jul 1993 26 Oct 1994 Sali Cody 48 kg on day 3 17 F Jiddah DK 17 17 Aug 1993 15 Nov 1994 Jessi Mabu 37 kg Zurich (Switzerland) and Lešná Zoo 18 M Jonas DK 18 2 Sep 1994 4 Dec 1995 Jarca Cody died - hand-reared in Moravia (CZ). 23 (10.13) individuals 19 F Elba DK 19 23 May 1995 5 Aug 1996 Eimi Cody became involved in reproduction. A 20 F Musso DK 20 25 May 1996 20 Aug 1997 Sali Jimm 21 F Jola DK 21 1 Jul 1996 25 Oct 1997 Jessi Mabu total number of rhinos born for the 22 F Jane Lee DK 22 4 Oct 1996 (?) 24 Jan 1998 Jimmi Isis entire holding period reached 36 23 F Salome DK 23 13 Oct 1998 25 Jan 2000 Sali Jimm (13.22) animals, of which three (2.1) 24 M Jeremy DK 24 16 Sep 1999 21 Dec 2000 Jessi Jimm 25 F -- DK 25 10 Jun 2001 24 Aug 2002 Eimi Sauron stillborn, 33 kg were born dead and 32 (11.21) calves 26 F Ema-Elsa DK 26 4 Aug 2001 2 Nov 2002 Elba Jimm reared successfully, which represents 27 F Deborah DK 27 5 Jun 2003 11 Nov 2004 Jiddah Jimm 97% rate of success of all live‑born 28 F Maisha DK 28 20 Sep 2004 21 Dec 2005 Musso Isis 29 M Jamie DK 29 6 Oct 2004 2 Jan 2006 Jessi Sauron animals. During the most recent 10 30 F Etosha DK 30 17 Jun 2005 4 Sep 2006 Elba Jimm months, three females were born, the 31 M Jabu DK 31 7 Oct 2005 1 Feb 2007 Jola Isis last of which in September 2010. See 32 M -- DK 32 25 Aug 2006 22 Sep 2007 Jane Lee Mweru aborted on day 393, 29 kg 33 M Dzanty DK 33 10 Aug 2006 24 Nov 2007 Jiddah Jimm more details in Table 5. 34 F Eva DK 34 26 Jul 2008 8 Dec 2009 Elba Baringo 35 F Jasmina DK 35 3 Sep 2008 13 Dec 2009 Jessi Baringo 36 F Just Era DK 36 8 Jun 2009 21 Sep 2010 Jola Mweru Total 36 (13.23) calves of which 32 (11.21) were reared. October 2010 | Cologne/Köln 55 The Mkomazi The local black rhino management Translocation and adaptation black rhino project programme has been arranged under to living in the bush the auspices of the George Adamson As major rhino holders in Europe and African Wildlife Preservation Trust As the process of constructing the in the world, Dvůr Králové were con- and supported by diverse charities fencing and a six -section boma inside tacted as early as 2003 by Tony Fitz- and other kinds of wildlife conserva- the area allocated for Dvůr Králové john, the African wildlife conserva- tion organisations, including Suzuki rhinos was underway in Mkomazi, tionist and manager of the northern Rhino Club, Save the Rhino, TUSK Dvůr Králové were making crates for Tanzania’s Mkomazi Game Reserve, Trust and Swordspoint etc.