Post-release ranging behaviour of hand-raised black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis, L. in Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe with recommendations for management of introduction to the wild

Abstract: Reintroduction is an important wildlife management technique for conservation of endangered species including the black rhinoceros. The first months after release in a new area are naturally a stressful period for introduced rhino (Adcock et al. 1998). Wild black rhino are known to be a relatively poor dispersing species after introduction to a new area. Reintroduction of black rhino met with problems, including poor habitat quality and hence poor reproductive performance
(Emslie 1994). Other problems are related to mass release of animals at one site at the same time and the resultant mortality due to intra-specific fights among introduced animals (Emslie 1994) and intra-specific aggression from resident individuals (Brett 1998).