Black rhinos airlifted to a new home

Posted by Christie Fynn on 10 October 2012

Last week, Dr Simon Morgan and Chris Kelly of the Wildlife ACT Fund assisted Jacques Flamand, who heads up WWF’s Black Rhino Range Expansion Programme (BRREP), to relocate black rhino onto a new game reserve. Simon and Chris helped by fitting the transmitter collars, choosing the release sites and training the black rhino monitoring staff.

A black rhino seen through a hole in one of the transport trucks.

As part of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, a few black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) individuals were removed from an undisclosed reserve for re-allocation purposes. For the safety of the rhinos, we will not provide the amount of individuals re-allocated as well as their final destination.

Why do we airlift black rhino?

The capture teams, vets and other professionals who have been moving these animals for decades have deemed this the most stress free, quick and efficient way to move rhinos short distances. It’s an amazing technique that minimises the time that the animal needs to be in transport and therefore reduces stress. While in the air, the rhino is still drugged and blindfolded.

This is the easiest and most stress-free way to relocate rhino.

What is BRREP?

BRREP stands for the Black Rhino Range Expansion Programme.

The entire capture team including Dr Ian Player.

Security is a critical part of rhino conservation but it is also essential to encourage rapid growth of rhino populations. This is being done through BRREP which creates new black rhino populations. BRREP is an initiative that I covered in my black rhino article in February 2011’s issue of Getaway.

Chris Kelly of the Wildlif ACT Fund drilling the black rhino's horn.

Previous achievements

The seventh black rhino population established by BRREP, was released after a 1500 kilometre trip across South Africa. A number of the critically endangered animals were moved from the Eastern Cape to an undisclosed location in Limpopo province. The Green Renaissance team released a video of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project’s latest project and called it ‘Flying Rhinos’.

Chris Kelly assists the rhino onto the ground.

WWF South Africa is part of the Project Rhino KZN group that aims to coordinate efforts across all organisations involved in the fight against rhino poachers.

Woolworths Rhino shopping bags

Thanks to all the Woolworths customers for buying the rhino shopping bags and assisting with the Wildlife ACT Fund and WWF with this mission! You can still buy a rhino bag and support the Wildlife ACT Fund’s rhino initiatives by clicking here. For more information on the Wildlife ACT Fund, please visit the website.

Chris Kelly assisted by Jaques Flamand from WWF and Jed Bird from KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife.

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