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Project update
- August 2006
June was a big month for Zambia.
The country's only population of black
rhinos was increased by ten individuals, bringing the total number
to sixteen. It all started in 2003, when five black rhinos were
flown in a Hercules plane from South Africa to the 4,600 square
kilometre North Luangwa National Park, in a pilot bid to re-establish
Zambia as a stronghold for the species. Not only did all settle
well into their new home, a baby was born two years later, the
first black rhino birth on Zambian soil in two decades. Aptly
named Buyantanshi, the local Bemba word for "progress",
the calf gave the go ahead for the introduction recently of an
additional ten animals - three males and seven females - again
donated by South Africa.
Each rhino was formally named and blessed
by the Chiefs of the game management areas that buffer the Park,
and each was implanted with a radio transmitter to aid tracking
in the field. After spending a couple of weeks in bomas to familiarize
them with the local sounds and smells and tastes, the black rhinos
were released one by one into a new, 150 square kilometer fenced
sanctuary, adjacent to the first. As we write, teams of highly
trained monitoring and anti-poaching scouts are ensuring that
the animals come to no harm. The rest is up to them! One happy
day in the not-too-distant future, all fences will be removed
and the rhinos will be allowed to roam free in the Luangwa valley.
This is an initiative of the Frankfurt Zoological
Society, through its North Luangwa Conservation Programme, and
the Zambia Wildlife Authority. Funds were also provided by the
Beit Trust, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Conservation
Foundation Zambia.
The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation assisted
with the channeling of a generous private donation by architect
David Back of Artillery and James Bowdidge of the Property Merchant
Group who have got together to form Horny @ 50, a rhino conservation
initiative.
For further information please contact
Jessica Groenendijk (jessica@fzs.org)
Every little contribution helps wildlife
and remember 100% of your donation will go in full to the project - thank you!
You can also help by becoming a member
of DSWF. Click here for more information
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