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  • Rhino conservation in South Africa

Rhino conservation in South Africa

There is currently an exponential increase in poaching of white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum simum) and black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) throughout their range on the continent of Africa. The country of South Africa contains 74 per cent of the world’s remaining rhino population, which is currently estimated at 18,900 white rhino and 2,040 black rhino. The white rhino was previously classified as Near Threatened (2011) and black rhino Critically Endangered (2012) by the IUCN. However, in the last six years 2,650 rhino have been poached in South Africa, with 1,116 deaths in 2014 alone; an average of three individuals per day. It is estimated that at the current rates of poaching, rhinos in South Africa may be extinct within the next 10-20 years. Poaching is predominately driven by illegal trade of rhino horn in Southeast Asia, where the black market value of rhino horn is reported to be worth more than gold.

While the value of rhino horn has been well documented, little is understood about rhinos’ environmental value and how these animals impact the ecosystems in which they function. Rhinos are believed to play an important role as 'ecosystem engineers', influencing the landscape in ways that promote a unique assemblage of species of plants and other animals that may not exist without their continued presence in these systems. Yet, we have little understanding of their specific impact on the environment.  

This will be the first study in South Africa to look at the ecosystem services of rhinos and the impact of management on rhino behaviour – information that will help to further protect these animals. The results will highlight how rhinos support biodiversity within their ecosystem and will be shared with rhino owners and park managers to create effective large-scale policies that help reduce the risk of poaching. The study is sponsored by the Earthwatch Institute and the Lounsbury Foundation.

Rhinos play an important role as ‘ecosystem engineers’ and understanding this impact on the environment will help conserve and manage rhinos in South Africa.

Dr Dawn Scott

Project aims

The aim of the project is to provide information that will help to conserve and manage rhinos South Africa. We hope to provide information to rhino owners on the behavioural and welfare implications of de-horning and to provide supporting evidence on land management practices that may help to identify and reduce poaching risk. In addition we will demonstrate how rhinos support biodiversity and ecosystem functions, hence provide further evidence of their inherent value in ecosystem support.

The overall aim of the project is to

  • To determine the consequences of reserve management approaches on the spatial distribution of white rhinoceros.
  • To determine the consequences of dehorning and poaching risk on the behaviour of white rhinoceros.
  • To investigate bird species and assemblages indirectly supported by rhinos, in order to evaluate the potential impact of localised loss of this mega-herbivore on avian communities.   
  • To investigate mammal species and assemblages indirectly supported by white rhinos, in order to evaluate the potential impact of localised loss of this mega-herbivore on supporting mammal communities.   
  • Evaluate the impact of changes in mega-herbivores (white & black rhino) in structuring the dung beetle community diversity.
  • Raise community awareness of the impacts of the decline in rhinos to raise community support in its protection.

Project findings and impact

At the core, the goal of the project is to provide information that will help to conserve and manage rhinos in South Africa. We hope to provide information to rhino owners on the behavioural and welfare implications of de-horning and to provide supporting evidence on land management practices that may help to identify and reduce poaching risk. In addition, the research will demonstrate how rhinos support biodiversity and ecosystem functions, hence provide further evidence of their inherent value in ecosystem support. At this larger scale, the research will highlight the value of living members of these complex and complete systems above the sum of their parts.

Data collected will help inform IUCN rhino management and conservation strategies at an international scale, as well as targeted strategies for the South African Department of Environmental Affairs regarding the animals in their charge. The project will also produce numerous peer-reviewed publications showing the impact of the loss of rhino populations on ecosystems.

Research team 

Dr Dawn Scott

Dr Angelo Pernetta

Dr Anja Rott

Dr Rachel White

Dr Maureen Berg

Lynne McTavish, Mankwe Wildlife Reserve

Output

To follow on completion of the project

 

Partners

Private game farms and reserves in South Africa

 

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