Our good breeding success has continued. Since October 1999 four rhinos have been born - two of each species. The rhino population now stands at 26 black rhino and 32 white rhino. The breeding performance of black rhino has improved after several years of sluggish performance. The females are now conceiving 8 to 12 months after calving, giving them an inter-calving interval of just over two years, which is comparable to other top-producing rhino sanctuaries in Africa. Previously our inter- calving intervals were over three years. We believe that the reason for this is the increased area of the sanctuary after the removal of internal fences. One of the black rhino mothers, Mawingo, is partially blind, and has a habit of leaving her new-born calves. On several occasions we had to pick up her latest calf and transport him by vehicle to re-unite him with his mother. As he grew, this became an increasingly difficult operation, and we eventually had to take the decision to rear him by hand. We have called him 'Omni', after the California-based computer components company that has been one of our major sponsors in recent years. He sleeps in the hut built for Larangoi, and spends the days roaming round the Conservancy with his keepers and 'Digby' - an orphaned warthog who is his constant companion. Because of the danger of Omni, like Larangoi, being killed in a fight with another rhino, we know that we cannot keep him on Lewa as an adult. As the security improves in the community areas in the north, we hope (pending the approval of the Kenya Wildlife Service) to take him back to one of these areas that were once favoured rhino country, as the advance guard of the black rhinos that may recolonise northern Kenya.
After the black rhino births of last year, we are not expecting any new ones for a while. Meanwhile 2 white rhinos have been lost. One was a calf killed by an adult bull white rhino, the other a female who died after breaking her leg in a waterhole. Omni, the orphaned black rhino, continues to live with Digby the warthog. Some of the black rhino with calves have their food supplemented with alfalfa.
The breeding performance of black rhino has improved after several years of sluggish performance. The females are now conceiving 8 to 12 months after calving, giving them an inter-calving interval of just over two years, which is comparable to other top-producing rhino sanctuaries in Africa. Previously our inter- calving intervals were over three years. We believe that the reason for this is the increased area of the sanctuary after the removal of internal fences.
