Project update - December 2006

Black Rhino Breeding & National Park Expansion Project

On a recent monitoring trip to Darlington National Park, one of the project staff discovered Tria, Shibula's 3rd calf, with a brand new baby of her own, as yet unsexed, at heel. Having had an incredible six calves herself since her return to the wild in 1990, Shibula is now a grandmother for the first time.

DSWF has been involved in black rhino conservation in South Africa since 1986. In 1990, David Shepherd and DSWF raised funds to rescue a black rhino, Shibula (meaning wild lady), from her concrete prison in Lisbon Zoo and return her to the wild in South Africa. In 1994, Shibula made conservation history by being the first reintroduced rhino to mate with a wild bull and produce her first calf. This was the start of a 16-year conservation success story that continues today and in that time Shibula has produced six calves.

In 2000, the project to expand the Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP) commenced, and later became inextricably linked to Shibula. The expansion was made possible by raising funds from two further of David's paintings, 'Cheetah in the Shade ' and 'A Vision in Black and White' which raised over £200,000, and with matching funds from South Africa National Parks, adjoining farm land was purchased allowing for a 200% increase to the National Park area.

In 2000, again with support from DSWF, five black rhino were reintroduced into the newly expanded park, including Shibula's first calf Dundi, and regular rhino monitoring of Shibula, in neighbouring Addo National Park and the newly formed breeding project at MZNP was started.

In 2004 - DSWF's 20th Anniversary year - Shibula coincidentally celebrated her 20th birthday.

Key Successes:

• The size of the MZNP has increased from 6'500 hectares to nearly 30'000.
• With increased tourism, this has provided welcome employment for the local community.
• Habitat has been increased, allowing the reintroduction of black rhino to this area after an absence of over 150 years. Gemsbok and buffalo have also been successfully released and are breeding well.
• Over 98% of the world's black rhinos were slaughtered during the poaching wars of the 1970s and '80s. Shibula's return to the wild has made a very significant contribution to rhino conservation in South Africa and given hope for the future.
• The expansion of the MZNP will also help ensure the safety of the critically endangered Cape mountain zebra, with numbers already increasing from 250 to over 350. Plans are now well underway for the 2007 release of another critically endangered species, cheetah, into this newly formed park.
• With continued DSWF support, monitoring has now been expanded to include ten more critically important populations of black rhino in South Africa - and all because of Shibula!

On a recent visit to South Africa, David visited The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, pictured here with one of their latest arrivals!

This facility offers a unique opportunity to young people from overseas to learn about African wildlife and bush skills through their student programme. For more details click here…

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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