Black and White Rhino Introductions in North-West Zimbabwe V.R
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Black and white rhino introductions in north-west Zimbabwe V.R. Booth, M.A. Jones and N.E. Morris Conservation strategy for the vast Matetsi black rhinoceros Diceros bicomis or white rhino- Parks and Wild Life Area in north-west ceros Ceratotherium simum occuring in Matetsi, Zimbabwe, part of which was once ranch they were both recorded along the Deka River on the south-east border (Roth, 1967). Habitats land, includes the reintroduction of within Matetsi are similar to those along the Deka species believed to have occurred there River and it seems likely that both species had in the recent past. Indeed, in IUCN's occurred in Matetsi. In 1967 four white rhino 1982 report Elephants and Rhinos in were introduced to the Victoria Falls (Zambezi) Africa: a time for decision, the area was National Park but two died and the remainder recommended as a priority area for trans- were removed to Wankie (Hwange) National Park (Tomlinson, 1977). In 1968 two white rhino location of surplus white rhinos from the whose place of origin is uncertain were resident in newly flourishing populations in some parts of the Matetsi ranching area, but they were southern African national parks. The translocated to Hwange (Herbert and Austen, authors, who are employed as ecologists 1972). by the Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management, describe the Black rhino results of some earlier introductions of Between August and October 1975 black rhino black and white rhinos into the area. were captured in the Siabuwa area south of Lake Kariba where they were coming under increasing The Matetsi Parks and Wild Life Area extends pressure from an expanding human population. over 4446 sq km in the north-west of Zimbabwe Four adult males and two adult females, one with and includes the Kazuma Pan National Park, a male calf, were released directly from trans- Kazuma Forest, Matetsi Safari Area, Pandamasui location crates at Saminungu in the Zambezi Forest and Zambezi National Park. Until 1974 National Park (Figure 1). Upon release the rhino land which now forms the Matetsi Safari Area was scattered and by November sightings had been occupied by cattle or cattle and game ranches reported from up to 16 km east and 14 km south- that in general were poorly developed or un- west of Saminungu. The male calf became sepa- economic. As the area was unsuitable for other rated from its mother and was eventually taken by agricultural pursuits the land was purchased by lions at Saminungu 13 days after release. the Government, incorporated within the Parks and Wild Life Estate and declared a safari area in Black rhino sightings since the introduction have 1973. Conservation strategy for the area includes been very infrequent due to their shy habits and the reintroduction of species that are believed preference for thick bush, but reports indicate that to have occurred in the recent past. the rhino have settled in thick Kalahari sandveld woodland and Acacia belts in the north of the Although there are no historical records of either Matetsi Safari Area and west of Zambezi National Rhino introductions in Zimbabwe 237 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.33.14, on 01 Oct 2021 at 11:04:01, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300019293 Legend Zambezi National Park I Victoria Area occupied by introduced rhino Falls Area occupied by immigrant rhino R Release point Hwange National Park Figure 1. Release point and present distribution of black rhino in the Matetsi Parks and Wild Life Complex. Park. In 1979 one adult male was found dead; the son, 1977). One adult male, one adult female, cause of death was possibly due to collision with a two sub-adult males and six sub-adult females military vehicle. In 1980 a cow and calf were seen were released in the Kazuma Pan National Park on two occasions and in 1981 a bull, cow and calf (Figure 2). It was intended that the rhino be held were seen regularly. Of the original introduction in pens and then a boma (enclosure) until they three adult males and two adult females seem to had become acquainted with each other. This have survived. At least one of the females has plan was abandoned when the rhino refused to calved. feed and they were released in two groups according to their park of origin. In addition to those introduced in the north, four black rhino have been seen during the last two On release the rhino split up into groups of one to years, in the south-east of Matetsi. It seems likely three individuals. These groups tended to reflect that these sightings were of rhino which migrated associations between individuals prior to trans- from the Deka Safari Area and possibly reflect an location, although in one case a Kyle animal expanding population of black rhino in this area joined two from Matopos. The immediate post- and in Hwange National Park. release movements are shown in Figure 2. The adult male and two sub-adult females established themselves on the western boundary of the White rhino Kazuma Pan National Park adjacent to Bots- In April 1975 10 white rhino, five each from wana. As they tended to stray over the inter- Matopos and Kyle National Parks, were trans- national border they were recaptured and located to Matetsi (Grobler et a/., 1975; Tomlin- relocated in the Zambezi National Park 35 km to 238 OryxVoll8No4 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.33.14, on 01 Oct 2021 at 11:04:01, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300019293 ZAMBIA I5°45'E Legend HIIIIHI Present distribution • Immediate post-release movement R Release point BOTSWANA 5 10 15 20 I I I -I8°I5'S km I Deka Safari Area Hwange National Park Figure 2. Release site, immediate post-release movements and present distribution of white rhino in the Matetsi Parks and Wild Life Complex. the north-west of the release point, with the adult dered extensively across the northern part of the female who had walked there. One sub-adult Safari Area in groups of varying composition. male and one sub-adult female settled in the Their numbers were increased by the birth of a Safari Area, 22 km to the east of the release point. calf to the adult female in May 1976 and the Two sub-adult females went 36 km to the south- arrival of two adult males, also thought to have east and roamed between the Safari Area and come from Botswana. The two Botswana males Hwange National Park. The remaining sub-adult remained in the west while the four introduced male and sub-adult female were eventually found rhino plus offspring eventually established a near Main Camp, Hwange National Park 130 km range across the centre of the northern part of from the release point. Reported sightings of Matetsi. In the south, sightings were less frequent white rhino in 1976 and 1977 showed that the but a pair of sub-adult rhino were seen periodic- two animals in the east of the Safari Area had ally and thought to range widely across the returned to the west and established themselves southern end of the Safari Area and the north of in an area encompassing parts of Kazuma Pan Hwange National Park. National Park, Kazuma Forest and the Safari Area. They were occasionally seen with a large Records were very infrequent during the height of male thought to have come from Botswana. One the war in 1978 and 1979 but by 1980 there were other female rhino was seen on the Kazuma de- three more calves in the northern population. In pression but there is some doubt as to her origin. April 1981 one adult female died from unknown causes. There are now 15 rhino in the north and The four rhino in Zambezi National Park wan- six at Kazuma. The sex and age structure is five Rhino introductions in Zimbabwe 239 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.33.14, on 01 Oct 2021 at 11:04:01, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300019293 adult males, five adult females, two adults of un- hunters of the Matetsi Area for reporting sightings of rhino. determined sex, five sub-adults and four calves. This paper is published with the approval of the Director of the Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management, Records for the southern areas are still very frag- Zimbabwe. mentary but suggest there are between two and four rhino that probably range between Matetsi and Hwange National Park. References Grobler, J.H., Ferrar, A.A. and van der Meulen, J.H. 1975. White rhino translocation to Matetsi from Matopos and Kyle Summary National Park, April 1975. Unpublished report. Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management, White rhino travelled considerable distances after Harare, Zimbabwe. 14 pp. release and took up to two years to settle down. Herbert, H.J. and Austen, B. 1972. The past and present Black rhino also travelled widely but sightings distribution of the black and square lipped rhinoceros in the were too infrequent to determine the full extent Wankie National Park. Amoldia, 26(5), 1-6. Roth, H.H. 1967. Whte and black rhinoceros in Rhodesia. and duration of these movements. Both species Oryx, 9,217-231.