Four orphaned black rhinos were released back into the wild at their new home at the Babanango Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal as part of a project that is a first of this scale using orphaned individuals to establish a new population in South Africa.
FOUR orphaned black rhinos were released back into the wild at their new home at the Babanango Game Reserve situated in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal earlier this month.
A combined statement by project partners Babanango Game Reserve, Conservation Outcomes, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, WWF BRREP and Wildlife ACT said the project is a first of this scale using orphaned individuals to establish a new population in South Africa.
“Black rhino are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, and severely threatened by poaching and habitat loss. Therefore, the identification of suitable habitat and the establishment of new populations marks a significant milestone in the growth and protection of the species in South Africa,” said the statement.
According to the statement, the orphans spent six years in captivity under the care of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
“The individuals were orphaned as young calves in separate incidents as a result of poaching and other factors, leaving the youngsters abandoned between the ages of 2 months and 1 year old. The orphaned rhinos were rescued and placed into the boma facilities run by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, and received 24-hour care and feeding by members of the game capture team.”
The orphans were relocated by the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, which is a partnership between Ezemvelo and WWF.
“The orphans now form part of a new population which includes wild black rhino that were selected and translocated from other reserves in KZN To Babanango Game Reserve,” said the statement.
Over a week ago, each rhino was safely loaded into a crate and trucked to Babanango Game Reserve ‒ a majority community-owned 20 000ha game reserve in the heart of Zululand.
Some of the animals were airlifted where the terrain made it difficult for trucks to reach.
“It is a big responsibility and a privilege at the same time for Babanango Game Reserve to be part of conserving these iconic species,” said the conservation manager at Babanango Game Reserve, Musa Mbatha.
Jeffery Cooke, the head of game capture at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, said the symbolism of this event cannot be overstated.
“The successful release of these four black rhino that, under any other circumstance would have been lost to the species, is a strong testament to the determination and commitment of not only the staff at the game capture facility who spent thousands of hours caring for them but also to the many donors and funders, some of them just schoolchildren, who gave willingly to ensure that these animals were given a chance,” he said.
Cooke said they need to remain committed and united as a province to the task of saving this iconic species, even if it is one animal at a time.
WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion project leader Jacques Flamand said the organisation was grateful to committed partners for devoting their land, money and resources to black rhino conservation.
Flamand said without the support, this exercise would not be possible.
“Creating new populations of black rhinos is the BRREP’s way of countering the devastating effects of poaching. It is wonderful that these orphans were rescued by Ezemvelo and now have a chance to become part of a new wild population,” he said.
The statement said over 75% of the Babanango Game Reserve is land invested from the surrounding communities, headed by the Emcakwini, Kwangono and Esibongweni Community Trusts.
The Emcakwini Community Trust and its beneficiary community members said they were honoured and privileged to welcome the arrival of the new rhino orphans to the reserve.
“This occasion marks an important and significant step in the reintroduction of both endangered and threatened wildlife species on to our land. May they roam safely and freely again, for the benefit of conservation, and the wise education of our children for generations to come,” said the Emcakwini Community Trust.
The statement said the rhino were generally elusive and shy, but infamous in their explosive personality when threatened.
“To aid in their protection, and before release on to the reserve, each rhino was fitted with a tracking device to ensure effective post release monitoring. This monitoring, supported by Wildlife ACT, is extremely important to ensure the rhino’s settle into their new environment,” it said.
