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The Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP) has translocated 230 rhinos to generate 15 new black rhino populations on sites in South Africa and Malawi in the last two decades.
As element of its celebration of World Rhino Day on 22 September, the planet Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) announced that a lot more than 200 rhino calves was in fact born on its sites considering that the first black rhinos were moved in 2004.
As due to these along with other efforts, black rhino numbers do have more than doubled in past times 2 full decades from their low point of less than 2 500 people to a far more recent estimate of approximately 6 200 animals, relating to official International Union for Conservation of Nature figures released in 2022, the WWF said within a statement. The black rhino population was estimated at a lot more than 100 000 about 120 years back.
The African continent’s white rhino population meanwhile has grown by 5,6% to 16 800.
According to figures released because of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, 231 rhinos were poached in South Africa between January and June 2023. Compared to exactly the same period in 2022, how many rhinos poached showed an 11% decline.
The primary goal of BRREP will be boost the amounts of the critically endangered black rhino. This is accomplished by moving a number of them from reserves with existing populations to new places where they usually have space to breed and thrive. This work takes place together with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife as well as the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency.
Dr Jacques Flamand, who’s got led BRREP since its inception in 2003, said: “The catalyst when it comes to project was the declining growth rate regarding the black rhino population in South Africa, with one reason why being which they were simply running away from suitable space.”
The project has additionally seen many innovations for translocating rhinos. BRREP is, as an example, recognized for its iconic ‘flying rhinos’, having perfected the manner of airlifting black rhinos away from inaccessible areas by attaching strops for their feet. BRREP also holds the greatest repository of black rhino DNA profiles in the wide world of a lot more than 300.
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Annelie is passionate in regards to the area she works in and calls it ‘God’s own country’. She’s particularly thinking about beef cattle farming, especially because of the indigenous African breeds.