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| Location: |
Africa - Eastern Africa - Kenya |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
African Rhino Species |
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In fact, at that time, I was Warden at Solio Came Reserve and we had very healthy populations of both black and white rhinos. It was, indeed, due to excess numbers of both species that the Rhino Rescue started. Solio was the only place in Kenya free from poaching and over the previous 14 years the populations of both species had steadily increased to the point that Peter Jenkins and I decided to take action to relieve the pressure and set up rhino sanctuaries elsewhere. Peter was, at that time stationed at Mweiga Park Headquarters of the Aberdare Park, not far from Solio. Once the government Wildlife Conservation and Management Service started trapping, word got out about the large numbers of rhino in Solio and poaching began.
In the introduction to the article it was stated that 17 animals came from Solio; in fact 15 came from Solio. When the reserve was started there were 19 rhinos present: 15 from Solio, two from the Conservation Department and two survivors from the original park stock. The statement that 'a further 11 females are due to be added to the park shortly', is pure speculation. In fact 6 white rhinos had been promised by Mr Parfet, owner of Solio, for the Reserve, free, at a meeting held before any captures started, and of these, at this date two have arrived. The only person who might have had knowledge of future intentions was Dr Dietter Rottcher, who affected the captures, or the Director, and both were likely to be fol- lowing my principle of saying as little as possible to reduce the risk of poaching.
On page 93 it was stated that, 'The founding stock was deliberately kept low to encourage the animals to breed more freely'. This was never true for black rhinos, which were taken from anywhere all the time. As Warden 1 had to accept this because the alternative was that they would probably be poached. In fact, I instituted the capture of black rhino from an adjoining ranch, which was being taken over for settlement, and I managed to get the owner of Solio Reserve for the first time to take females only, by pointing out that the reserve aready had too many males. The balance was moved to Aberdare Park because Solio already had the highest density of rhinos in Africa and they were degrading their own habitat.
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Lake Nakuru black rhinoceros sanctuary
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