Sondela Rhino Conservation
Rhinos are in peril!
There are five species of rhinoceros found in the
world namely, the White rhino (Ceratotherium
simum), the Black rhino (Diceros
bicornis), the Greater one-horned rhino or Indian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), the Sumatran
rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) and
the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus).
Two of these species, namely the White and Black rhino are found in Southern
Africa. The populations of all five species haveseriously declined over the last
few years, mostly as a result of poaching activities. Currently the population
sizes of the different species are as follows:
White rhino: 20,405
Black rhino: 5,055
Indian rhino: 3,333
Sumatran rhino: Less
than 100
Javan rhino: 58
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The Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) was once on the brink of extinction with only
around 50 individuals left in the wild! It was rescued mainly by efforts of Dr.
Ian Player and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (formally known as the Natal Parks Board) and
now numbers over 20,400 individuals. Few people are aware that White rhinos
were actually extinct in the Kruger National Park and were reintroduced from
Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN). Sadly, however, there are currently only 3 remaining
Northern white rhinos (Ceratotherium
simum cottoni, a subspeciesformerly found in several countries in East and
Central Africa south of the Sahara)in existence in the world!
Numerous conservation efforts have been initiated in
order to protect and save these tanks of the animal kingdom. Conservation
activities include anti-poaching and monitoring programmes, community
conservation and environmental education programmes, demand reduction, capacity
building, research, translocations, captive breeding and rehabilitation.
Sondela Nature Reserve’s Wildlife Centre plays a very important role in this
regard as it is not only a rehabilitation centre for orphaned baby rhinos, but
also a quarantine facility and environmental education centre. To date Sondela
Wildlife Centre has successfully rehabilitated 7 rhino calves (4 bulls and 3
cows).
In order to protect and conserve threatened,vulnerable,
or endangered species, it might even be necessary to export them to countries
outside their natural range, where they can be kept and bred within a captive
environment. In this way a meta-population and genetic ‘bank’ can be
established in order to manage the conservation of the species more
effectively. Currently, rhinosare being exported (or there are plans to export
in the very near future)to countries such as the USA, Europe, Singapore,
Vietnam and Australia. Such actions are, with very good reason, governed by
extremely strict legislation. The following, is according to the “Criteria to be met by the captive
facilities/zoos wishing to acquire or keep the rhinoceros imported from South
Africa” by Mrs. B.E.E. Molewa, MP (Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs):
To export live rhinoceros from South Africa, export
permits are required in terms of the National Environmental Management:
Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) and the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The
Annotation to the CITES Appendix II listing of South Africa’s population of
white rhinoceros states that live rhinoceros can be exported to appropriate and
acceptable destinations. CITES Resolution Conference 11.20 defines the term “appropriate and acceptable destinations”
as destinations where the Scientific Authority of the State of import is
satisfied that the proposed recipient of a living specimen is suitably equipped
to house and care for it. Moreover, the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs is empowered in terms of Section 59 of NEMBA to advise organs of state
on the effective implementation of international agreements.
The Minister and Members of Executive Council
(MINMEC) responsible for the conservation of biodiversity in the province, have
approved criteria on what is an appropriate and acceptable destination, and
that which has to be met by the captive facilities wishing to acquire or keep
rhinoceros imported from South Africa. These criteria are as follows:
·
The facility where the
rhinoceros imported from South Africa will be kept must be an institutional
member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA), an affiliated
member of WAZA (for instance, PAZAAB), or an accredited member of a regional
zoo association recognised by the CITES Management Authority of the state of
import as a reputable association. These associations must require the zoo or
the captive facility to:
o
keep a high standard of
husbandry and veterinary care;
o
maintain animal record systems;
o
contribute to conservation
activities with written conservation action plans for the institution with
specific reference to the rhinoceros;
o
contribute to the relevant
scientific studies to improve the conservation status of the species, with
specific reference to the rhinoceros;
o
promote education as a key
component of the institution’s mission;
o
have a written policy that
outlines the type of research that it conducts, with specific reference to the
rhinoceros; and
o
develop a risk management plan
that identifies and assesses potential risk regarding injury/harm to the
specimen kept in the facility and the visiting public and employees.
·
Export for re-introduction
purposes will only be approved if the export is in range states of the specific
species to be introduced.
·
Both horns of the rhinoceros to
be exported must be micro-chipped and DNA samples must be taken prior to
export. The DNA samples must be sent to the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at
Onderstepoort for analysis and DNA banking.
In addition to adherence to the above-mentioned
criteria, the following information is also required to be submitted in terms
of Section 88(2)(a) of NEMBA, in order to permit applications for the export of
live rhinoceros from South Africa to be considered by the relevant issuing
authority:
·
A letter from CITES Management
Authority of the importing country, indicating that the rhinoceros’ horns will
not be used for commercial purposes, must be provided to the relevant issuing
authority.
·
Written confirmation from CITES
Scientific Authority of the importing country that the destination is
appropriate and acceptable and that the facility is able to house and care for
the rhinoceros in accordance with Resolution Conference 11.20.
·
Documentary proof that the
rhinoceros’ horns have been micro-chipped and the DNA samples taken should
accompany the permit application.
It is thus clear that rhino conservation is being
very carefully managed not only nationally, but also internationally and
Sondela prides itself in playing a very important and integral part in these
efforts, in conjunction with other organisations.
