Rhino Numbers and Census

[Lisbeth]

I would not call the number "slightly" lower than in 2013. It is 5% on the minimum and 3,23% on the maximum number. A medium of 4,10% lower than in 2013. Also here we have no idea of how many rhinos there really are.

How many years before the poached rhinos would equal the number of births did Dr. Mabunda estimate? Was it 5 years or more? Those words were pronounced not even 2 years ago

[Mel]

What's IPZ

[RogerFraser]

Intensive Protection Zone - An area somewhere they have setup with very strong protection .Personally think this result shows that it is possible to protect the rest if they supply enough resources instead of sending our army to protect other African countries interests ....

[Mel]

Thanks, Roger!

[Toko]

but the small increase in the IPZ could be only due to internal relocations, as they moved rhino from other places in Kruger into the IPZ and if the supply dries up because relocations are finished the picture will look different.

[Richprins]

Ja, Toko...


They will get to the IPZ eventually, IMO, but at least a measure!

[Toko]

Respected wildlife veterinarian calculates there more than 1 500 but less than 3 000 white rhinos left in the Kruger National Park. Report by Louise de Bruin

Link

[Flutterby]

And SP still think it's not a problem!!

[Richprins]

SP still wants to sell rhino...





The number of white rhinos left in the Kruger National Park is becoming a hotly contested issue, and will come under scrutiny in a High Court case about lifting the South African moratorium on trade in rhino horn next week.

Official numbers of white rhinos in the Kruger stand between 8 000 and 11 000, according to their surveys. However, Dr Kobus du Toit, a rhino expert, wildlife veterinarian and biologist, says these numbers are impossible.

According to Du Toit, there are more than 1 500 but less than 3 000 white rhinos left in the park, and he challenges any ecologist to refute his figures.

Du Toit, a respected wildlife veterinarian who specialised in the capture and translocation of large wild animals and pioneered the commercial breeding of rhinos for sustainable horn production, recently released a book titled The Story of the White Rhinoceros. In it he reflects on the history of white rhino populations in the Kruger in the 1900s.

According to historical evidence, the white rhino population was extirpated in 1896. Stocks were reintroduced from the then Hluhluwe-Umfolozi complex in KwaZulu-Natal between 1963 and 1974. The relocation project proved successful and the Kruger’s rhino population steadily increased.

Based on this information, together with historical evidence of top-ups, additional introductions and capture removal across the park, Du Toit calculated the current number of white rhinos using a normal mathematical growth formula. Births and natural mortalities were considered, resulting in a net growth of the population that was never more than 8% in the past.

[Mel]

Du Toit's math sounds reasonable... Unfortunately...