Save the Rhino Trust Namibia has recently
entered a new phase in their operation after 30+ years of fighting
for the conservation of the desert black rhino with the unfailing
support of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. Through the
dedication of the late Blythe Loutit (founder of Save the Rhino
Trust, Namibia) and the late Michael Hearn (project director and
field team leader for over 12 years) SRT and its staff were instrumental
in bringing the highly endangered population of desert black rhino
to a viable size after the population plummeted in the 1980's.
The recovering population has been carefully monitored by SRT's
patrol staff on foot, through camel tracking, and by vehicle,
providing immaculate records and one of the largest databases
on desert-dwelling black rhino, Diceros bicornis bicornis, in
the world. This information has provided invaluable information
for Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), who,
in August 2005, made the first official assessment of the desert
black rhino population in 15 years. MET chief conservation scientist,
Pierre du Preez, was joined in the field by SRT's field staff,
SRT CEO Rudy Loutit, SRT research director Simson Uri-Khob, and
SRT field director Bernd Brell, for aerial assessments and lengthy
sessions with SRT's databases. These long days led to fruition,
and the next phase of SRT's development was officially born, a
phase that was in the midst of creation before the passing of
Blythe Loutit and Michael Hearn.
The vision for the desert black rhinos'
future lies with the formation of community conservancies in the
Kunene Region of Namibia, a programme guided by the Ministry of
Environment and Tourism. Much of the desert black rhinos' historic
range now lies within communal areas. Within previously registered
conservancies, local village livelihoods and growing wildlife
populations are now harmoniously coexisting through the benefits
of tourism. Charismatic fauna, such as the black rhino, have enormous
photographic value in ecotourism. Could this be the key to reestablishing
the desert black rhino in its former range? In 2004, newly-appointed
SRT research director Simson Uri-Khob carried out a survey of
local communities in emerging conservancy areas, to ascertain
local people's perceptions of the desert black rhino. Results
showed an incredibly positive attitude of local communities towards
the black rhino, a testament to SRT's efforts to educate communities
and collaborate with local people throughout the organisation's
existence. A second study, carried out by SRT colleague and MET
chief warden Michael Sibalatani, assessed the feasibility of black
rhino tourism in the Kunene Region. The results of these projects
were presented by Simson and Michael in a workshop held on September
1st and 2nd, aimed at defining the future of desert black rhino
in the region. The foundations laid through these studies and
the progress made during this locally-attended workshop were of
paramount importance to the future of the desert black rhino.
Community members, ministry officials, and SRT staff shook hands
on a unique collaboration to reintroduce the desert black rhino
into its historic range.
Within SRT's next phase, the future reintroduction
and monitoring of the black rhino will require:
extensive field surveying of current
and future black rhino habitat.
establishment of additional vehicle and
camel tracking teams for monitoring, and a means for regular
air surveys.
collaboration with MET and local conservancies
on securing the protection of future desert black rhino range
through planning workshops.
development of holistic land management
plans, including rhino tourism options, for future black rhino
areas through planning workshops
establishment of a sustainable conservation
education programme.
In addition to the need for extended surveying
and monitoring activities and additional tracking equipment, SRT's
facilities lack a venue for the necessary planning workshops and
education programmes proposed in this next phase. As a tribute
to Blythe Loutit and Michael Hearn, SRT would like to establish
a conservation training and education centre that will lead the
conservation of the desert black rhino to its next stage of recovery
and viability. This centre will be integral in empowering Namibians
to better manage their valuable natural resources and will provide
a basis for the conservation of the entire ecosystem, using black
rhino as a flagship species.
