Personally I estimated the number of animals as 1000 at the end of my 1961 journey, but I need to revise this after receiving more information. The range of the animal is about 190.000 km?, of which maybe 50% is cultivated or inhabited. With a theoretical density of the animals of 0.02 animals per km? this would give about 2000 animals in the Sudan. In view of population density in Uganda (0.03 animal per km?), this estimate is careful and not too high.
Total 638
The different estimates till now are as follows 1957, Reid: 400-500, Yei District 1958, Grzimek: several hundreds, Sudan 1959, Behr & Meissner:ca. 600, SW Sudan 1961, Kock, Juba Dept.: ca. 500, Nimule NP 1961, Schomber: ca. 60-70, Nimule NP 1963, IUCN: ca. 2000, Sudan 1963, Schomber: ca. 1000, Sudan.
40
Status 1949-1963. 1949, 150-300 Backhaus 1960 1956, 713, Grzimek 1960 after Micha 1958, 600, Grzimek 1958 after Micha 1959, 500, Behr & Meissner 1959 1959, 1000, Grzimek 1960 1960, 500, Player & Feely 1960 1963, 900, IUCN 1964, 700, IUCN after Simon
Locality on map: Aliab Dinka - Molloy, 1936-48, p.172
Locality on map: Yiro Distr. - Reid, 1956, p. 343
Locality on map: Interior from Shambe - 1927 - Bernatzik, 1943 p. 83
8
2
4
3
The numbers given by Behr & Meissner are too optimistic, while that of Schaurte 1964 is too pessimistic, as even the numbers of the northern subspcies are higher.
Ceratotherium simum, 80, cf Cave 1963.
Ceratotherium simum, 300-350
80
Locality on map: Atet on the Yirol-road - GFD, 1948
Locality on map: Eastern Yei-Distr. - GFD, 1948
The current range is South-West Sudan west of the White Nile (Bahr-el-Jebel). It includes the whole or part of the provinces West-Equatoria and Bahr el Ghasal. Boundaries of the range, in the East: White Nile (Bahr el Jebel) from Nimule to Shambe, the line Shambe -Bentiu (confluence of Bahr el Arab in the Nahr el Ghasal). To the east of this line the swampy parts of the Nile, the so-called Sudd, forms a natural boundary. Boundaries in North: The Lol River at about 9 deg. North. Possibly a few animals live north of the river between the Lol River and the Bahr el Arab. The Lol is not a natural boundary as it is often dry. Boundaries in the West: The boundary between Sudan and CAR, except for the gallery forests in the south of the common boundary. Boundaries in the South: the boundary of Sudan with Uganda and Congo, except the forest areas along the border. Within the range the distribution is limited. Areas with large population (Nimule, Shambe, Yei) are besides those with small or very small populations.
The white rhino probably occurs in the small Ashana Reserve, 80 km? , in the NW Bahr el Ghazal province between the Lol and Sopi Rivers.
Locality on map: Lenaisi - Powell-Cotton, 1907 - Heller, 1913
Locality on map: Western Shambe - Selous 1910 - Heller, 1914
The opinion of Player & Feely (1960) and others that the protection of the white rhino in Sudan is good on paper but not effectuated, is not correct. The new government takes the protection seriously. In SW Sudan there are 9 protected areas including two national parks.
Locality on map: Southern Amadi - GFD, Map 1958
8
6
Map
The white rhino is restricted to the north-east of Congo, in the Uel? Province.
1700
Total 2800
20
2000
567
3438, or about 4000 animals.
3925
2000
1600
Locality on map: Yei-Maridi-road north of Lautito - Reid, 1952, map, p. 32
Locality on map: Between Bahr el Arab and Aweil - GFD, Map 1958
Locality on map: Ananatak-Land north of Tonj - AWL, 1952, p.13
The protection of the white rhino in Uganda is quite inadequate. There is a lot of poaching despite the existence of game laws. Player & Feely (1960) are incorrect in saying that the game laws are well kept despite the fact that there is no special reserve for the rhinos. The reserves of Mount Kei and Mount Otze are ecologically unsuitable. Although they are often mentioned as rhino protection areas, the map published in 1961 by the
Locality on map: Northwestern Mvolo - 1936/37 - Berg, 1955, p. 211
Sighting: Westbank of Nile in Equatoria und Bahr el Ghasal - Mackenzie, 1954, p. 20
Sighting: Westbank of Nile in Equatoria und Bahr el Ghasal - Mackenzie, 1954, p. 20
Sighting: South Sudan on Nile westbank between Bahr el Arab in North and Nimule in South -Ionides, 1953, (1951), p. 16
Sighting: Bahr el Ghasal and Nimule-Reserve - Cave, 1963, p. 26
Sighting: North at Bahr el Ghasal-Prov. - Heppes, 1958, p. 273
Sighting: Bahr el Ghasal and Equatoria-Prov. - Player & Feely, 1960
Sighting: Lado-Enklave and Bahr el Ghasal-Prov. - Heller, 1913.
Locality on map: Tonj-Meshra er Req- road - Molloy, 1936-48, p.172
Locality on map: 50 km SW of Shambe - 1927 - Bernatzik, 1943, p. 116
Locality on map: Nimule National Park - Schomber, 1961
Locality on map: Kaia-River - Molloy, 1936-48, p. 171
Locality on map: Between Gel- and Sue-Rivers - Molloy, 1936-48, p.172
Locality on map: Shambe - Molloy, 1936-48 p.172
5000
2000
3000
1400
130-150
Ceratotherium simum, p. 222 fig. 3
Ceratotherium simum. About 1910. The white rhino occurred in NW Uganda west of the Nile (Albert Nile) between Dufile in the north and Pakwach in the south in the districts of West-Madi, Aringa, Koboko, Terego, Madi, Okoro and Jonam. With the exception of the Aringa and Koboko districts, the range extended westwards to the Nile valley (about 40-45 km west of the river). Only in the extreme north the white rhino extended into the valley and towards the populations in NE Congo and S Sudan. About 1958. Since 1949 the population increased. The range was limited to West Nile and West Madi districts. The southern boundary lies at this time near the Ora River between Inde and Pakwach. The western boundary is only crossed in the regions of Mount Kei and Midigo towards the north-west. About 1962-1964. According to the work of Cave, the number of rhinos decreases alarmingly due to poaching. About 80 animals live in the districts Madi, West Madi and Aringa, on one elongated piece of land 120 km long and 30-50 km wide. About 25-30 animals are in Aringa and West Madi, 50 in Madi in the swamps along the Nile. The West Madi and Aringa population consists of two groups, one near Lomunga Game Camp, the other near Laufori. The first group lives in the area between the Obongi-Itula road and the Nile, the second group is small (2-3 animals) north of the Moyo-Arua road. The other animals are south of the road.hayes still has a total of 71 animals.
700
It occurs in a few places in the Upper Nile Province.
range of white rhino in 1925, 1958 and 1962/64.
Sommer (1951) says that during the time of the classic European sports hunting (ca. 1900) the white rhino lived in the east of the then French occupied territoeires of Tchad and Oubangui-Chari between Goz Beida (Tchad) and Birao and even south of that. The animals would have been exterminated by natives tribes, especially the Krechs. Grzimek in 1954 published a distribution map which gives the historic range of the white rhino over most of the Central African Republic, the south and west of Tchad, the entire Schari area, the Tchad lake itself and the surrounding areas. It was based on information from the Fauna Preservation Society, london, but its sources are unknown. I have not been able to consult most of the French literature of the area. This is based on the report by Blancou 91960), who says that since 1900 no white rhino specimens or tracks were encountered except in the N.E. Oubangui-Chari, especially along the Aouk River. Since 1931 they would have disappeared from the Aouk River area. Both Bourgoin and Blancou point at reports which indicate that white rhinos may sometimes still occur in the east of CAR. Bourgoin says these reports are accurate and reliable. Blancou mentions as localities the Upper Kotto and the Upper Chinko. None of this has been verified, and there is still some amount of doubt. Blancou says that the protection is poor, and that there are no reserves for the rhino. However, Nehr & Meissner (1959) state that in the reserve of Aouk-Aoukale and in the free zone of Birao an unknown number of white rhino lives with increasing numbers.
A large number of white rhino lives in the Shambe Game Reserve (460 km?). Hartley (cf. Hook 1949) observed 20 animals in the park during a capture operation and said that from one place to the horizon at least 100 animals could be seen at the same time.
Poaching has recently been unknown in the border areas with Uganda and Congo. The very tough penalties imposed by the government seem to work. It has often been said that rhino poachers are pubished by death and that game rangers are ordered to shoot to kill. This has not been officially verified. The director of the game department, Sayed Mekki Mirghani Mdani, refused to answer the question during an interview.
Locality on map: SE Rumbek- GFD, Map 1958
Locality on map: Near Tonj - Owen, 1949, p. 324
Locality on map: Lado-Station - 1904 Gibbons - Heller, 1913
Locality on map: Dar Fertit-Distr. - Mahon 1910 - Heller, 1913
Locality on map: Kiro - Powell-Cotton, 1907 - Heller, 1913
Locality on map: Kevi - Powell-Cotton, 1907 - Heller, 1913
Locality on map: Fariala - Powell-Cotton, 1907 - Heller, 1913
According to Cornet d'Elzius (in Verschuren 1958) there are 40 white rhino in the hunting reserve of Gangala na Bodio outside Garamba NP. The present fate of the animals is uncertain.
Locality on map: Between Numatina-Reserve and Southern National Park - G. P.O., Juba, 1960
Locality on map: 45 Miles north-east of Tonj - G. P.O., Juba, 1960
Locality on map: River Jur, 20 miles east of Gogrial - G. P.O., Juba, 1960
Locality on map: 10 miles south-east of Yirol - G. P.O., Juba, 1960
Locality on map: 40 miles north of Yirol - G. P.O., Juba, 1960
Locality on map: Maridi-Amadi-road, ca.10 km SW of Mundiri - Kock, 1961
Locality on map: From Yei to NW Tambura - Christy 1916 - Shortridge, 1934
White Rhino recorded from the Nile south of Nimule, in 1910, cf. Roosevelt 1910: 350.
The Ministry of Animal Resources in Khartoum likes to overestimate the number of animals. Nimule NP is an example. According to official figures, the park is 420 km? but in fact it is only 200 km?.
White Rhino recorded from Orras Swamp in 1908, cf. Berger 1922: 278, with fig.
White Rhino recorded from Sururus Village, Lado Enclave in 1909, cf. Roosevelt 1910: 370.
It is found at this time (around 1958) that the Mt Kei and Mt Otze reserves are ecologically unsuitable for the white rhino as they consist of dense forest. There are very few rhino there. It is estimated that there are no more than 35 specimens. The numbers in the Mt Kei area decreases during the last eight years. The reserves of Mount Kei and Mount Otze are ecologically unsuitable. Although they are often mentioned as rhino protection areas, the map published in 1961 by the `Directorate of Overseas Surveys' gives them as `Game Controlled Areas'.
White Rhino recorded from Mt Kei, cf. Heck 1957: 151, Grzimek 1958: 117.
Densities of rhino in various areas: Size km? Number km?/animal animal/ km? Umfolozi ca.700 567 1.23 0.81 Hluhluwe 228 40 5.70 0.17 Garamba 4920 600 8.20 0.12 Garamba 4920 1000 4.92 0.20 Uganda 7500 350 21.42 0.05 Uganda 7500 250 30.00 0.03 Nimule, Sudan 200 70 2.86 0.35 Yei, Sudan 15726 500 31.45 0.03 End
White Rhino recorded from Mount Otze, cf. Heck 1957: 151, Grzimek 1958: 117.
Several authors give the distribution of the white rhino as Lake Chad, the region around Lake Chad and some far northern places like Abech? as former range. Several French sources allow the conclusion that the white rhino in recent times lived in many parts of the former French Equatorial Africa and that it was recently exterminated. According to Blancou (1960) since 1900 the white rhino was only found in the South East of the Tchad Republic, and it would have been extinct there since 1931. There are no indications that animals have migrated from the Sudan.
It is quite probable that the white rhino occurs in the Numatina Reserve, 1240 km?.
Ceratotherium simum . Numbers have been estimated as follows, but the enormous differences shows that some numbers must be used with great caution. 1927, Behr & Meissner 1959, ca. 30 1928, Cave 1963, 130 1939, Cave 1963, 220, none south of Pakwach 1940, Behr & Meissner 1959, 220 1948, Cave 1963, 190, no longer near Rhino Camp 1949, Heppes 1958, 190 1951, Cave 1963, 300 1953, Ionides 1953, ca. 300 1954, Hayes 1964, 500, too high (Schomber) 1955, Cave 1963, 350 1958, Heppes 1958, 335 1958, Bere 1958, 100-150 1959, Behr & Meissner 1959, 600-700, too high (Schomber) 1959, Hayes 1964, 300, realistic (Schomber) 1960, Player & Feely 1960, 250-350 1961, Brooks, in litt., 300 1962, Cave 1963, 80 1962/63, Pitman, in Cave 1963, 70-75 1963, IUCN, 100 1963, Anon. (Afr.Wild Life), 77 1964, Hayes 1964, 71 End.
A possible occurrence in the extreme south of the Darfur Province needs confirmation.
4920 sq km
The numbers have increased much during the past ten years. What has been the effect of the political insecurities of the past three years is unknown.
It appears that in recent historic times the white rhino occurred north of the Uel? River up to the Mbomou, the river on the border with CAR. Verschuren (1958) believes that it became recently extinct on the Mbomou and Mahai. Christy (cf. Shortridge 1934) saw it often on the Mbomou in 1916.
Locality on map: Between Mesbra er Req and Deim-Zubeir - Arfac, 1907, p. 614
The reserves of Mount Kei and Mount Otze are ecologically unsuitable. Although they are often mentioned as rhino protection areas, the map published in 1961 by the `Directorate of Overseas Surveys' gives them as `Game Controlled Areas'.
White Rhino recorded from Rhino Camp, by Churchill in 1908, cf. Heller 1913.
Since 1949 the numbers increased. Ionides (1953) says that the numbers in Mount Kei and Mount Otze reserves increased. In 1958, Heppes estimated a substantial increase since 1949 to 190 animals.
White Rhino recorded from Dufile, in 1925, cf Shortrdige 1934: 426
The Inde White Rhinoceros Sanctuary, mentioned by Hayes (1964), has an uncertain official status.
In March 1961, 10 white rhino were captured in the Madi District and released in the Murchison Falls NP east of the Nile, in a region where they never occurred in historic times. Here the animals are well guarded and enjoy suitable protection. Of the 10 animals released, there were 8 still alive in 1963.
Grzimek (1958) mentions that there are bout 70-80 white rhino in Goz Sassulko NP. Although the name of the park is known, it is no longer mentioned in recent works.
Locality on map: Aloma-plateau - Reid, 1952, p. 32
Locality on map: Lake Nyibor - Molloy, 1936-48, p.172
Locality on map: Jebel Lul - Reid, 1952, map
Locality on map: On Nile, NW of Kajo Kaji - Reid, 1952, map
Locality on map: Between Sue-River and Tambura - Woodman, 1952, p. 35
Locality on map: Formerly in Mbiris Country, in this longitude not further west as Jebel Topi, Amadi-Distrikt - Woodman, 1952, p. 35
Locality on map: Eastern Gogrial - Molloy, 1936-48, p.172
Locality on map: Kala - Reid, 1952, map
the occurrence in the Juba reserve (200 km?) near Lado Mt. is doubtful, except maybe as passing animals.
Locality on map: Between Kero and Wadelai on Nile - Arfac, 1910, p. 592
Locality on map: Lemasi, Lado-Enklave - Powell Cotton 1907 - Maydon 1957
Locality on map: Kijo-valley - Reid, 1952, p. 32
Locality on map: Kajo Kaji - 1951 - Ionides, 1953, p. 16
Locality on map: NW Tembura - 1911-25 - Larken, 1953, p. 49
Locality on map: North of Sue-River - 1911-25 - Larken, 1953, p. 49
Locality on map: Moringinda and Mbiris Country within Southern N. Park - 1911-25 -Larken,1953: 49
distribution Ceratotherium simum in SE Sudan.
For a long time the only record from the extreme west (locality 28) was the one of Mahon in 1910 for the Dar-Fertit district, recorded by Heller 1913. This scarcity of records must be due to the fact that this remote region was seldom visited.
