In the aftermath of a devastating poaching crisis that plagued the Greater Kruger area for over 15 years, Friday 7th June marked a significant turning point. A historic rewilding operation was recently concluded, with 120 southern white rhinos successfully translocated to private reserves adjacent to Kruger National Park’s western boundary. This initiative, part of the Rhino Rewild programme led by African Parks, signifies a beacon of hope amidst the challenges faced by rhino populations. Spearheaded by the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation (GKEPF), this translocation not only aims to replenish rhino numbers but also to provide these animals with a chance to thrive in their natural habitat once more. It’s a testament to resilience and collaborative conservation efforts, born out of the urgency to protect and preserve these iconic species.
We sat down with Richard Napier, Chairman of Thornybush Nature Reserve, to discuss this historic milestone in the fight to protect the rhino population.
It felt very much that the initiative was a turning point in the rhino poaching crisis and I know that all those involved were very humbled to be part of it. It represents a reward to the private reserves in the landscape for the resilience, partnership and collaboration in stabilising rhino losses through their combined anti-poaching efforts. A huge thank you must go to African Parks, GKEPF and others involved, including generous donors for facilitating such a positive and uplifting project which will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the white rhino population in the Greater Kruger landscape through increasing the numbers of rhino and their genetic viability.
Thornybush Nature Reserve (TNR), along with the other significant private nature reserves in the Greater Kruger is a proud member of GKEPF and has been involved with GKEPF from its inception. GKEPF is the coordinator of anti-poaching and broader security related initiatives in the Greater Kruger landscape and provides an invaluable role in coordinating key programmes and cooperation between the private reserves and SANParks to ensure effective combatting of wildlife crime. Thornybush benefits from ongoing collaboration and interaction on the ground facilitated by GKEPF and from access to experts in various fields that provide training and advice.
It is important to note that these rhinos and all rhinos on TNR are dehorned and will be dehorned on an ongoing basis. While we would prefer to see rhinos with horns, dehorning has been statistically proven to be the most effective deterrent to rhino poaching. TNR along with all the other reserves has committed to continuing to act as custodian of the wildlife, including these rhinos, that move across the open system. TNR has an effective anti-poaching team of well-trained field rangers and canines. All rhinos in the system are continuously monitored by field rangers and field guides, camera traps and aerial monitoring.
One of the fundamental objectives of this initiative was to restore white rhino numbers in the landscape to what they formerly were, and naturally should be, and to improve genetic viability and to address shortfalls in the sex distribution ratios of rhino in the open system. The African Parks rewilding project has made a significant contribution to restoring numbers and the probability of an increase in the population through breeding over time. Rhino as megaherbivores contribute to the ecosystem through their grazing by leaving shorter grass available to smaller antelope which in turn provide prey for predators. Rhino dung and middens help disperse seeds and provide nutrients to help other species survive. A thriving population is therefore an integral element of a healthy ecosystem.
The rhinos were purchased by African Parks and donated to GKEPF. GKEPF was able to access significant donor funding to enable the translocation. The receiving reserves have committed to providing security in their respective areas and to assist in the monitoring of these rhino on an ongoing basis. Such monitoring and protection was already in place for the existing rhino population and other wildlife. The security and monitoring of the rewilded rhino will, therefore, form part of existing budgetary provisions.
The rewilding exercise of so many rhinos in such a short time frame had many challenges and excellent learnings. Future exercises will be managed much better because of these learnings. All the rhinos released had revolutionary satellite ear tags fitted and this data has been monitored and collated through GKEPF. This data will be invaluable for scientific monitoring and understanding of the integration of the rewilded rhinos, as well as improving tracking devices. In addition extensive geofencing has been put in place to alert wardens of rhino movements.
We anticipate that there will be further rewilding of additional rhino and that with the effective security provided by the reserves, numbers will continue to grow. We will continue to see ongoing collaboration between the reserves and GKEPF’s role will probably expand over a broader geographic area.
Thank you to these photographers for capturing this experience so incredibly well: Cathan Moore, Mike Dexter and Rifumo Mathebula.
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