 Reference Base  The mammals of the southern African subregion, new edition |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - South Africa |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
African Rhino Species |
 |
|
Both species of rhinoceros formerly occurred widely in the southern parts of Africa. The white rhinoceros, however, never occurred very far south of the Orange River and generally was absent from the Orange Free State and parts of the southern Transvaal, although in the east it occurred throughout most of Natal, except in the extreme south. The black rhinoceros, on the other hand, had a wider distribution and occurred throughout most of southern Africa, except in parts of the Orange Free State and southern parts of the Transvaal.
With the increase in European settlement of southern Africa from the 17th century both species were exterminated gradually throughout their range. By the end of the 19th century the southern white rhinoceros was reduced to only one population of about 50 to 100 in the southern part of the area which now forms the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve in Natal.
Ceratotherium simum was extinct in the Cape by 1880.
The last black rhinoceros in the Transvaal was seen in the Kruger National Park in 1936.
At the end of the 19th century they were restricted to what is now the Umfolozi Game Reserve, but spread during the 1930's and 1940's to the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. At first confined to the Umfolozi-Corridor-Hluhluwe Game Reserve Complex, subsequently they have been reintroduced to the Mkuzi, Itala and Ndumu Game Reserves in Natal and many other reserves including the Kruger National Park and Pilanesberg National Park.
|
|
|
File available
details
Original text on this topic: