The black rhino population of Zimbabwe is presently estimated to be approximately 1700.
Diceros bicornis . The next largest population is probably that in the Chizarira-Chirisa complex with c. 400, followed by Hwange National Park with 250+, Chete with c. 200 and Matusadona also with c. 200.
Action Plan. 5. Chirisa - Chizarira, Zimbabwe (population estimate 350) These contiguous protected areas hold up to 400 black rhino in mostly rugged terrain. Poaching has not been a problem, but the present forces are inadequate to counteract commercial poaching. The Zimbabwean authorities were urged to examine the situation carefully and take appropriate action. A small mobile, well equipped anti-poaching unit established in the district could act as an early antidote to any commercial poaching in the complex comprising Chirisa, Chizarira, Chete and Matusadona.
AERSG Action Plan. 2 Etosha Park - Namibia (estimate 350). Etosha lies within an incipient war zone and with the second largest coherent population of black rhino on the continent it is vulnerable. No immediate requirement for assistance from the international conservation community was identified.
5
3795
630
1400
25
1500
300
30
30
40
300
300
300
110
90
400
440
510
1737
8900
5
10
400
640
1680
14-15000
20
3788
381
The largest contiguous population is that in the middle Zambezi valley between Kariba and Kanyemba where the population is estimated to be at least 700.
AERSG Action Plan. Progress is being made on each of these items. At the AERSG meeting in Luangwa in July, 1986, AERSG priorities for field action for black rhino populations throughout Africa were examined in terms of paragraph 1.2 under Field Action of the Action Plan (see above). The top five of the priority areas are given below and these highlight the importance of the Zimbabwean populations in the conservation of black rhino in the wild in Africa, 1 Zambezi Valley - Zimbabwe (Population estimate 750) This area lies downstream from Lake Kariba and includes a number of components of the Zimbabwean Parks and Wildlife estate. The Mana Pools National Park and the Chewore and Sapi Safari Areas comprise a World Heritage Site. The Zambezi Valley complex carries the largest remaining coherent population of black rhino left in Africa and the only population of more than 500. Key actions identified were an increase in anti poaching forces, infra-structural development for the valley, field research, and greater co-operation between Zimbabwe and Zambia to stop cross border poaching.
10
15
unknown
90
200
100
110
130
1650
170
550
3130
20
unknown
unknown
unknown
20
30
unknown
unknown
unknown
70?
unknown
250
2750
3000
The poaching of rhino is a highly organised operation involving wealthy international traders and often highly placed and corrupt politicians and officials. These people hire experienced and determined poachers as the anti-poaching forces in Zimbabwe have discovered over the past 18 months during which time some 150 rhino have been poached and 23 Zambian based poachers killed.
Smaller populations occur in the Matetsi safari area and in the Gonarezhou National Park and black rhino have been reintroduced onto two farms and to the Matopos National Park. Some 70 black rhino were reintroduced to the Gonarezhou in the early seventies and, given normal population growth rates, should by now have more than doubled in number. This population has, however, been subjected to a continuous low level of poaching which has recently escalated and numbers are now below 70.
AERSG Action Plan. Selous Game Reserve - Tanzania (population estimate 200 ?) This was the top priority for black rhino conservation five years ago. In ranking the Selous at the Luangwa meeting AERSG worked on a population of 300 black rhino. Actions
Diceros bicornis. The next largest population is probably that in the Chizarira-Chirisa complex with c. 400, followed by Hwange National Park with 250+, Chete with c. 200 and Matusadona also with c. 200.
Diceros bicornis. Smaller populations occur in the Matetsi safari area and in the Gonarezhou National Park and black rhino have been reintroduced onto two farms and to the Matopos National Park.
Diceros bicornis . The next largest population is probably that in the Chizarira-Chirisa complex with c. 400, followed by Hwange National Park with 250+, Chete with c. 200 and Matusadona also with c. 200.
AERSG Action Plan. 4. Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe (population estimate 250). Black rhino were reintroduced into this park in 1960 and more than 100 have been introduced from the Zambezi valley over the last 3 years. It is one of the best protected parks in the country and no rhino poaching has been recorded. Immediate assistance is not required.
Diceros bicornis. Smaller populations occur in the Matetsi safari area and in the Gonarezhou National Park and black rhino have been reintroduced onto two farms and to the Matopos National Park.
The next largest population is probably that in the Chizarira-Chirisa complex with c. 400, followed by Hwange National Park with 250+, Chete with c. 200 and Matusadona also with c. 200.
IUCN, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, has a major network of largely honorary members comprising scientists, conservationists, and administrators vvho provide specialist information, advice and services to the Union. These members operate through a series of commissions and specialist groups supported by a core executive staff based mainly at the IUCN headquarters in Switzerland. The largest Commission is the Species Survival Commission (SSC) which has some 90 Specialist Groups and whose task is 'to prevent the extinction of species, subspecies and discrete populations of fauna and flora thereby maintaining genetic diversity of the living resources of the planet'. One of the SSC's specialist groups is that of the African Elephant and Rhino Specialist Group (AERSG) which has its headquarters in Harare. The group's 34 members are drawn from 16 countries in Africa. The primary role of the AERSG is to monitor the numbers and distribution of rhino and elephant in Africa, identify and investigate key conservation problems and threats to these populations, and advise on priorities for action to conserve rhino and elephant in Africa. This is done partly through. an Action Plan which is updated annually and published in Pachyderm, the AERSG newsletter.
The rhinoceroses belong to the odd toed ungulates or Perissodactyla in which Order are also included the horses and tapirs. Rhinoceroses first appeared in the Oligocene some 30 million years ago. The earliest deposits containing remains of the living species of African rhino date back some 3 to 4 million years. During the period 18 to 8 million years ago there were seven genera of rhino in Africa with about 12 species in all. Towards the end of the Miocene era (5m years ago) all but two genera, Diceros and Ceratotherium, became extinct. So in Africa we now have two species in two genera, namely, the black rhinoceros, or hook lipped rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and the white rhinoceros, or square lipped rhinoceros, (Ceratotherium simum). There are a further three species of rhino in India and south east Asia all equally endangered and numbering less than 2 500 individuals.
1987, Africa, $850 per kg
