Not one of the estimated 300 black rhinos has been killed in over a year. In the Sinamatelia region of Hwange National Park all 59 black rhinos were dehorned in mid-1992. In October 1994 only 33 had survived. In the country's three major private conservancies in the south of Zimbabwe, the black rhino population is up by eight to 101 in a year.
In South Africa between 1990 and late 1995, six black rhinos (Diceros bicomis) and 27 white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) were lost to poachers in areas managed by the Natal Parks Board. Of the 66 horns to be accounted for (two per animal), a total of 26 were either recovered, had not been removed from the animals or had been lost by natural causes. Estimating an average weight of 3,5 kg per horn, some 140 kg of rhino ham remain unaccounted for. In a few of the poaching incidents, small pieces of skin had been removed from the dead animals. A total of 32 rhinos were poached during the same period in Kruger National Park, and 13 in the Transvaal region. This represents a total of 71 white rhinos and seven black rhinos. South Africa has not conducted a programme of dehoming its rhino population.
purchase of white rhino at NPB auction. Clive Walker, Chairman of the Rhino & Elephant Foundation and of the African Rhino Owners Association (AROA) recently attended a game auction held at the Hluhluwe Game Reserve by Vleissentraal, on behalf of the Natal Parks Board. A total of 133 white rhino and six black rhino were auctioned. The black rhino, who were the highlight of the auction, fetched R150.000 each while the white rhinos fetched exceptional prices at an average of R43.000 and a high of R86.000. Walker purchased three white rhino females on behalf of the owner of Lapalala Wilderness to boost their white rhino population.
