Black rhino released in Karoo National Park

Black rhino released in Karoo National Park The last of three black rhino translocated from Namibia to the Karoo National Park near Beaufort West were released from the bomas on May 14, 2007. The three rhino of the Diceros bicornis bicornis subspecies, or socalled ‘desertecotype’, are part of a group of 12 rhino that have been translocated to South Africa, of which nine were translocated to Addo Elephant National Park. Of these, three had been released into Addo and the other six will remain in the Addo Elephant National Park bomas until they are moved to Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area.

The rhino translocation is the first step in a fourway partnership between South African National Parks (Sanparks), the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Zambian Wildlife Authority and the Eastern Cape Parks Board. The partnership was initiated to exchange rhino for antelope between Namibia and Zambia.

Rhino of the bicornis subspecies from Namibia have been released into Karoo and Addo Elephant National Parks in ex change for the translocation of black rhino of the Diceros bicornis minor subspecies from Sanparks to Zambia at a later date. The minor black rhino subspecies is the subspecies naturally found in Zambia. The three rhino in Karoo National Park spent a few days in the bomas, since their arrival on the May 9, to acclimatise to the local conditions and enable San parks veterinarians to ascertain that their condition was stable following translocation. The rhino also had transmitters fitted to their horns to allow locating the rhino, both for monitoring purposes and for security.

The release of the rhino into the Park was carried out one at a time and at night time in order to minimise the stress placed on the animals. The first two rhino were released on Sunday night and the early hours of Monday morning respectively. The new rhinos join the two resident black rhino in the Park. Such translocations of rhino are an important management tool for Sanparks to ensure genetic diversity in managing its metapopulation of bicornis subspecies black rhino in the Karoo, Addo Elephant and Mountain Zebra National Parks, as well as the new national park situated outside Kimberley that will replace Vaalbos National Park