Black rhino update

June 1992, a further 5 black rhino purchased at Natal Parks Board game auction by Mr Dale Parker, owner of Lapalala Wilderness. The group was captured in the wilderness area of Umfolozi GR and had to be airlifted by helicopter to their holding bomas. One of the recently introduced females `Makoko' was pregnant. She gave birth one week after release into the reserve, to a male in the middle of one of the steep concrete reinforced game viewing roads behind Kolobe Lodge. It was first seen by lodge manager Rod Stokes on 11 July 1992. No mother appeared and it was clear that she had abandoned the calf. The orphaned male rhino called `Bwana Tshiwana' (Mister [swahili] Orphan [Northern Sotho]) was taken to Onderstepoort Veterinary Facicity arriving at 1800h. His birth was premature and had complications. At 5 weeks he weighed 37 kg. Bwana;s nursery is at Karen and Roy Trendler's home. Bwana is to return to Lapalala in Feb 1993.