JAN-JUL 1998 Number 25 Pachyderm S P E C I E S S U R V I V A L JAN- JUL 1998 Number 25 C O M M I S S I O N Contents 1 Chairman’s Report: African Rhino Specialist Group Martin Brooks 3 Rapport Du President: Groupe Des Specialistes Des Rhinos Africains Martin Brooks Editor 6 Chairman’s Report: Asian Rhino Specialist Group Greg Overton Mohd Khan bin Momin Khan, Thomas J Foose Editorial Board and Nico Van Strien Holly Dublin Chryssee Martin Mark Stanley Price 7 Rapport Du President: Groupe Des Specialistes Des Rhinos Nico Van Strien Asiatiques Lucy Vigne Clive Walker Mohd Khan bin Momin Khan, avec Thomas J Foose et Nico Van Strien All correspondence, including enquiries about subscription, should be sent to: 9 Chairman’s Report: African Elephant Specialist Group The Editor Holly T Dublin Pachyderm WWF Regional Office PO Box 62440 11 Rapport De La Presidente: Groupe Des Speciacialistes Des Nairobi, Kenya Elephants Africains Tel: 254-2-331543/332963 Holly T Dublin Fax: 254-2-332878 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] 14 Trends Of The Elephant Population In Northern Botswana From Aerial Survey Data Debbie St. C. Gibson, G Colin Craig and Rapelang M Masogo 28 The Rhinoceros Fight in India L.C. Rookmaaker, Lucy Vigne and Esmond Bradley Martin 32 Chemical Immobilization of African Elephant in Lowland Forest, Southwestern Cameroon Paul W Elkan, Hubert P Planton, Publicationn costs for this issue have been provided by the United States James A Powell, Jerry A Haigh, William B Karesh Fish and Wildlife Service 38 African Elephant Specialist Group Meeting IUCNThe World Conservation Union Cover Photo credit: Clive Walker Pachyderm No. 25, JAN - JUL 1998 Pachyderm JAN- JUL 1998 Number 25 38 Current Issues 39 Ecology of Crop Raiding Elephants Loki Osborne 40 Trends of Elephant Poaching in Kenya the Elephant Mortality Database John Waithaka 41 Human-Elephant Interactions at the Ecosystem Level Richard Hoare 42 Social Organisation in Translocated Juvenile African Elephants; The Dominance Hierarchy and an Intriguing Behaviour Marion E Garai 43 Elephants and Human Ecology in Northeastern Ghana and Northern Togo Moses K Sam and Richard Barnes 44 The Distribution of Elephants in Northeastern Ghana and Northern Togo Kotchikpa Okoumassou and Richard Barnes 45 Elephant Contraception Research in the Kruger National Park Ian J Whyte and Dave G Grobler 53 Habitudes Migratoires des Elephants et Interactions HommeElephant dans la Region de Waza-Logone (Nord-Cameroun) Martin N Tchamba 67 Variability in Ranging Behaviour of Elephants in Northern Kenya Chris R Thouless 74 Elephant Status and Conflict With Humans on The Western Bank of Liwonde National Park, Malawi Roy Bhima 81 Tracking African elephants with a Global Positioning System (GPS) radio collar lain Douglas-Hamilton 93 African Elephant Database and Data related issues 93 Presentation: Proposal for incorporation of Grid-based Data into the African Elephant Database Chris Thouless Pachyderm No. 25, JAN - JUL 1998 Pachyderm JAN- JUL 1998 Number 25 94 Presentation: Predicting Human-elephant conflict Chris Thouless 97 Afesg Terms Of Reference 98 Implementation of cites Decision Regarding Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants and Trade in Ivory 100 Human-elephant Conflict Task Force (HETF) 100 Captive Breeding of Elephants 101 A Revisit to the IUCN Red Listing of the African Elephant 102 Minuted Meeting 102 AOB and Close of Meeting Notes from the Field 104 The Current Status of the Northern White Rhino in Garamba 106 A Simple Method for the Analysis of Stratified Aerial Sample Counts 107 Nepal Destroys Large Stocks of Wildlife Products 108 Pourquoi une strategie de gestion pour les Elephants d’Afrique de l’Oest? 109 Tsavo - The Legacy 111 African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) Members 113 African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) Members 116 Asian Rhino Specialist Group (AsRSG) Members 120 Notice to Contributors Pachyderm No. 25, JAN - JUL 1998 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: AFRICAN RHINO SPECIALIST GROUP Martin Brooks Natal Parks Board P0 Box 662 Pietermaritzburg 3200, South Africa 1998 AFRSG MEETING WESTERN BLACK RHINO Thanks to generous sponsorship from WWF, Mount The threat facing the last known remaining western Etjo Safari Lodge and Budget Rent-A-Car, the black rhino (D.b. longipes) in Cameroon continues to AfRSG was able to hold its fourth meeting in increase with two black rhinos known to have been Namibia from 12 to 19 April 1998. Despite the clash poached since February 1996, and a further ten no longer of dates with the Easter holidays, the meeting was seen or reported from their home range. Current data well attended by 30 members and invited delegates indicates that there are only ten to a possible 18 animals from 11 countries. In addition to the presentation of remaining, scattered in small isolated groups of one to the usual detailed country reports and technical four rhino over an area of 3,200km2 within a 25,000km2 papers, and the holding of six workshops, delegates range. This situation is undesirable both were also exposed to aspects of the Namibian rhino demographically and genetically. However, any conservation programme in the field in three rhino consolidation of remaining animals would be areas. logistically difficult, expensive, and could increase the risk of the animals being poached unless adequate AFRICAN RHINO NUMBERS REACH security was put in place. A workshop at the April 11,000 IN THE WILD AfRSG meeting recommended the development of a specific rhino project to develop a Government of The latest continental statistics compiled at the meeting Cameroon recovery plan through the President, with reveal that African rhino have now increased to 11,000 WWF/FAC as counterparts who could provide initial in the wild. After having been stable since 1992, black funding. Greatly increased government commitment to rhino numbers have increased from 1,995 to 2,600 by rhino conservation was seen as essential for success. 1997. The increase in white rhino numbers in the wild Short term recommendations include obtaining high continues, and by 1997 the species numbered 8,400. level political support, the appointment of a high level About a quarter of Africa’s white rhino are now privately steering committee and recruitment of additional anti- owned and managed. Despite these positive trends, the poaching staff, the establishment of two protection zones last remaining northern white rhino in the Democratic to protect breeding rhino, increased intelligence Republic of Congo and the western black rhino in gathering, and continued monitoring. Much will depend Cameroon remain in a precarious position. on necessary changes within the government ministry (MINEFF) to allow effective anti-poaching efforts, and NORTHERN WHITE RHINO on continued support from the existing GEF savannah project. Two surveys were undertaken in April and June 1998 which indicated that most of the last remaining northern POACHING DOWN white rhino survived the liberation war in ex-Zaire which overthrew ex-President Mobutu. Both surveys Based on the country reports at the AfRSG meeting, it indicated that at least 25 animals remain. However, the appears that levels of poaching are generally down, security situation in Garamba remains a concern, as although undercover wildlife investigators indicate there poachers have now moved well into the rhino’s core is still considerable interest in poaching rhino and/or area and large numbers of elephant and buffalo have dealing in rhino horn. It is hoped that the increasing been poached since 1995. The recent civil war in the imposition of severe sentences in some range States, country further threatens the remaining rhino and such as a 20-year jail term in Namibia and ten years in conservation efforts in the Park. South Africa, may act as a deterrent. Pachyderm No. 25 JAN–JUL 1998 1 STATUS OF AFRICAN RHINO IN might cause changes in the indicators in the field in CAPTIVITY rhino Range States (explanatory variables) with a view to providing this as background information to By the end of 1997 there were approximately 900 help inform the deliberations of the expert workshop. African rhino in captivity worldwide. AFRSG INVOLVEMENT IN HORN Three quarters of the 240 black rhino in captivity in DEALING AND POACHING CASES 1997 were eastern black rhino (D.b. michaeli), with the remaining 25% being southern-central black rhino Sentences handed down in another two South African (D.b. minor). There are no western (D.b. longipes) cases where the Scientific Officer was called as an or southwestern (D.b. bicornis) black rhino in expert witness were also severe, further establishing captivity. Mortality continues to be high in captive a precedent for sentencing in South Africa that is black rhino; although over the last two years, the commensurate with the seriousness of these crimes. performance of the younger and more recently At the request of the Rhino and Elephant Security established AZA SSP southern-central black rhino Group of Southern Africa, the Scientific Officer gave (D.b. minor) metapopulation is encouraging, with a presentation outlining his experiences in court, and births outnumbering deaths by 13 to six. If this has passed on copies of court statements to assist progress can be maintained, then for the first time other wildlife investigators prepare for other court performance of captive-bred black rhino will cases. approximate levels of growth achieved in healthy expanding wild populations. REVISED DRAFT AFRICAN RHINO There are approximately 650 southern white rhino (C.s. ACTION PLAN simum) and nine northern white rhino (C.s. cottoni) in A fully revised draft of a new IUCN/SSC AfRSG captivity worldwide. From 1995 to 1997 the captive African Rhino Action Plan has been completed, and population of southern white rhino fell by about 14, it incorporates all the latest information and statistics while numbers of northern white rhino remaining which emerged from the April AfRSG meeting.