This electronic thesis or dissertation has been downloaded from Explore Bristol Research, http://research-information.bristol.ac.uk Author: Rees, Caroline Title: The translocation of white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) to the Okavango Delta, Botswana General rights Access to the thesis is subject to the Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International Public License. A copy of this may be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode This license sets out your rights and the restrictions that apply to your access to the thesis so it is important you read this before proceeding. Take down policy Some pages of this thesis may have been removed for copyright restrictions prior to having it been deposited in Explore Bristol Research. 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The translocation of white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) to the Okavango Delta, Botswana Caroline Rees A dissertation submitted to the University of Bristol in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Science School of Biological Sciences September 2018 30,722 words i ii Abstract Poaching and the illegal wildlife trade results in conservation managers considering alternative approaches to preserve wildlife populations. Translocation could be used as a mitigation strategy when protected areas struggle to maintain large animal populations. My research was instigated by the ‘Rhinos without Borders’ organisation which translocated six white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) from a high-risk poaching reserve in southern Africa to the relative safety of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Data were collected over a 29 month period. The aim of rhino conservation in Botswana is to establish a gene depositary for the future survival of the species. For successful translocations it is important to examine the behaviour of animals, so the main aim of this thesis was to investigate how the rhino adapted to translocation. Most translocations involving large herbivores involve small numbers of individuals. Generally short-term translocation success rates are poor and are affected by mortality during the translocation process or after release, large dispersal distances - sometimes leaving the release area entirely, or rejection of resources at the release site. Acclimating wild rhino established stable hierarchy, but the results highlighted the requirement for a better understanding of captive rhino social groups, and social pressure within a contained environment. Rhino formed paired companionships during the acclimation period in the boma, and cohorts were sustained after initial release into the Okavango Delta. Rhino had extensive ranges compared to reserves with high populations, and despite acclimation they dispersed over large distances. Forcibly moving rhino from certain areas did not stop them from returning, and was therefore an ineffective method of control. Rhino employed a varied mixed movement strategy at the landscape scale. Grassland was a key habitat for rhino and was related to availability. Rhino made selections based on high intake rate to maximise energy. Annual diet mainly comprised tufted caespitose and stoloniferous high and average quality swards. My results illustrate the importance of understanding how the translocation process affects wild animals, and how they adapt to new environments. iii iv Dedication For my parents Thank you for your love and support in helping me follow my dreams. Diolch am popeth. v vi Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisors, Professor Stephen Harris, Professor Innes Cuthill and Professor Gareth Jones for all their help and support. I would also like to thank Dr. Hattie Bartlam-Brooks for her guidance and support in Botswana. I would also like to thank my tracker and friend John for teaching me so much. I would like to thank the Botswana Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks for allowing me to carry out me research, in particular Dr. Michael Flyman and Minister Tshekedi Khama for assisting with permits. I would like to thank andBeyond for inviting me to carry out this research, particularly, Les Carlisle, Michelle Goushe and Simon Naylor. I also would like to thank Cecil Riggs for all his support out in the African bush and welcoming me to his camp. I would like to thank Map Ives from Wilderness Safaris and Rhino conservation Botswana. Thank you for our chats, your passion for rhino conservation is inspiring. Thanks to Kai Collins for all his help and support, in particular for flying me out to Mombo to help with my data collection. I would also like to thank Great Plains and Sanctuary Retreats for supporting my research. I would like to thank everyone who helped me financially including Simon at Helping Rhinos, Ed at Riverbanks Zoological Park and Botanical Garden, Annie at Our Horn is NOT Medicine, Lawrence Drotsky, Iain Mcarthur, Thomas White, Amy Hathorn, Nancy S-Smith and other anonymous donors. I would like to thank Dr. Rob Thomas from Cardiff University for supporting my grant applications. In Botswana I would like to thank my dearest friend Amy, I would not have completed this project without your friendship and love, Robyn and Kyle, James S, Emily – thank you for field support, James B, Vanessa, Jess, Alex, Valli, Carolyn, Grant and Dimari, Megan and Dave, Effy, Gadzi, KT, Masego, Tess, Amanda, everyone at andBeyond, Robyn H, Simon M, Nic and Shane S, and Pullie J. I would like to thank Sam Kannemayer for all your help in Gabs with my research vehicle, and Clive King for fixing it. I would like to thank my buddy Carol for your love and support. I would like to thank my friends at home in Wales: Louise, Rhianydd, Paul, Carl brown bear, Kath, Jan, and Andrea, Geraint and Emma. From Bristol I would like to thank James S, Lia, Jo and Sandra for the chats over coffee. Lastly, I would like to thank my family: mum and dad, Mike and Jemma for supporting me on this epic journey. vii viii Author’s declaration I declare that the work in this dissertation was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the University's Regulations and Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and that it has not been submitted for any other academic award. Except where indicated by specific reference in the text, the work is the candidate's own work. Work done in collaboration with, or with the assistance of, others, is indicated as such. Any views expressed in the dissertation are those of the author. SIGNED:................................................... DATE:.......................... ix x Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................... iii Dedication ...................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ...................................................................................... vii Author’s declaration ...................................................................................... ix Contents ........................................................................................................ xi List of figures ............................................................................................... xix List of tables ............................................................................................. xxvii Chapter 1. General Introduction ............................................................... 1 1.1 Foreword .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Megafauna ................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Body size and extinction risk ...................................................................... 4 1.4 Drivers and consequences of Quaternary mass extinctions ...................... 5 1.5 Extant megafauna at risk ........................................................................... 6 1.5.1 Rhinocerotidae ................................................................................... 6 1.5.2 Rhino crisis ......................................................................................... 8 1.6 Rhino in Botswana.................................................................................... 10 1.7 The study area .......................................................................................... 11 1.7.1 Seasons ............................................................................................. 12 1.7.2 Habitat description ........................................................................... 13 1.8 Project individuals .................................................................................... 16 1.9 Thesis rationale .......................................................................................