Chances of obtaining black rhino were enhanced by the 1987 rescue operation which was being heavily sponsored by WWF in the Zambezi Valley, where rhino were falling prey to poachers at the average rate of one per day, and here approximately 30 poachers had already been shot dead in anti-poaching skirmishes. As negotiations progressed, our allocation was dropped from 12 to six animals.
Black rhino (Diceros bicornis minor) disappeared from Swaziland at about the close of the 19th century.
Black rhino (Diceros bicornis minor) disappeared from Swaziland at about the close of the 19th century.
Diceros bicornis Swaziland - behaviour towards fence. We kept the rhinos confined in bomas, each separately compartmented, for 2 months before releasing the first two animals, Mayaluka and Kakayi. Mayaluka began browsing immediately he left the pens. He walked slowly down the fenceline - and touched it. The 4000 volt shock sent him snorting into the bush. Kakayi was then released. She walked up to the fence as though she could not see it. Her face, held high, went beyond the bracket supporting the insulated strand of electrified barbed wire and she pushed through the veldspan mesh, snapping the wire before the 4000 volts hit her. She was well earthed at the time, with her face enmeshed in the veldspan. The shock sent her back on her haunches, and she bellowed and took off into the bush. It is unlikely she has ever touched the fence again. We let only the two out that day. The first night one of the gates was damaged by Mayaluka. It was buckled and bent, but it held long enough to deliver what must have been a terrible shock, for it had rained that night and the ground was wet. His tracks, which showed that the bull had fled from the gate into the bush and run for at least two kilometres, were imprinted deep in the earth. It is unlikely that Mayaluka has ever made contact with the fence again either. Meanwhile, following the experience gained from the release of the first two animals, an intermediate paddock was built and electrified. The next two rhino were released individually into this paddock to teach them about electricity. Without exception, on contact each one rushed back and sought the shelter of the boma. They quickly learned not to make contact with electrified wire, and when finally released, they too respected the fence entirely. There followed a daily patrol of the fence for two weeks thereafter, and spoor showed the rhino to be giving the fence a wide berth. Finally, the bull Fecele and the remaining heifer Mbabatane were released into the cabled paddock and exposed to electricity. They too rushed for the shelter of their pen after contact with the 4000 volts. Two contacts were enough for them to acknowledge the fence -and they skirted the wire religiously from then on.
Diceros bicornis Swaziland. On the rhino's arrival, we experimented with different browse offerings and among the favourite foods were the fruit of the sausage tree Kigelia africana, various combretum species and Securinega virosa (white berry bush). On release, Euphorbia ingens found to be a special favourite and is heavily utilised. Other trees browsed with considerable pressure are Dichrostachys cinerea, Spriostachys africana, Pterocarpus rotundifolius, and the acacia species, particularly A. borleae. Concentrates to supplement their food were consumed at the rate of over 20 bags a month. Regular horse cubes were also used with great success.
Diceros bicornis Swaziland. On the rhino's arrival, we experimented with different browse offerings and among the favourite foods were the fruit of the sausage tree Kigelia africana, various combretum species and Securinega virosa (white berry bush). On release, Euphorbia ingens found to be a special favourite and is heavily utilised. Other trees browsed with considerable pressure are Dichrostachys cinerea, Spriostachys africana, Pterocarpus rotundifolius, and the acacia species, particularly A. borleae. Concentrates to supplement their food were consumed at the rate of over 20 bags a month. Regular horse cubes were also used with great success.
Released animals. Mayaluka returned to the boma often, where he demolished bushes and churned up the soil in a territorial display against Fecele, who was in an adjacent area separated by electrified wire. The two bulls frequently display along this fenceline and square up to each other, but to date have not made contact. This territorial behaviour has given us confidence in their acceptance of their new home.
