The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN or any of the funding organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN.
Published by: IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group & Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi
Copyright: © 2018 IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
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Citation: Soorae, P. S. (ed.) (2018). Global Reintroduction Perspectives: 2018. Case studies from around the globe. IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, UAE. xiv + 286pp.
6th Edition
ISBN: 978-2-8317-1901-6 (PDF) 978-2-8317-1902-3 (print edition)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2018.08.en
Cover photo: Clockwise starting from top-left: I. Reticulated python, Singapore © ACRES II. Trout cod, Australia © Gunther Schmida (Murray-Darling Basin Authority) III. Yellow-spotted mountain newt, Iran © M. Sharifi IV. Scimitar-horned oryx, Chad © Justin Chuven V. Oregon silverspot butterfly, USA © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service VI. Two-colored cymbidium orchid, Singapore © Tim Wing Yam VII. Mauritius fody, Mauritius © Jacques de Spéville
Cover design & layout by: Pritpal S. Soorae, IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group
Printed by: Arafah Printing Press LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Download at: www.iucnsscrsg.org www.iucn.org/resources/publications
ii Mammals
Reintroduction of black rhinoceros in the Sera Community Rhino Sanctuary, Kenya
Antony Wandera1, Mary Mwololo2, Mathew Mutinda4 & Stephen Chege4
1 - Senior Research and Monitoring Officer, Northern Rangeland Trust, C/o Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Private Bag - Isiolo, Kenya [email protected] 2 - Senior Research and Monitoring Officer, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Private bag, Isiolo, Kenya [email protected] 3 - Field Veterinary Officer, Mountain Conservation Area, Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 40241 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya [email protected] 4 - Executive Director, Daktari Wildlife Foundation, PO Box 4420, Nairobi 00100, Kenya [email protected]
Introduction The Eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli), commonly referred to as the hooked-lipped rhinoceros, is a subspecies of the black rhinoceros. It is listed by CITES on Appendix I and categorized as ‘Critically Endangered on IUCN Red list with a confirmed 886 individuals (as at 2015) left in the wild in continental Africa (Emslie et al, 2015). Kenya hosts approximately 75% of this subspecies with the remainder in Tanzania and South Africa. In May 2015, a founding population was reintroduced into Sera - a community based conservancy under the umbrella of the Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT) that is located in Samburu County - some 100 km North of Isiolo town, in Northern Kenya.
This is the first black rhino breeding sanctuary in East Africa that is community owned and managed. The reintroduction followed after more than 20 years of absence and was carried out in response to the Kenyan National for Conservation and Management Strategy 2012 to 2016, that encourages community participation. Sharp decline of black rhinos from an estimated 20,000 in 1970 to less than 400 in 1990 mainly due to poaching necessitated the government of Kenya to capture and put all free-ranging rhinos in enclosed sanctuaries where protection was provided.
Goals Goal 1:To establish the first community owned and managed black rhino breeding sanctuary in Kenya as per the Kenyan National Strategy for Black Rhino Conservation and management before 2016.
Eastern black rhinoceros
150 Mammals