About This Project

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

White rhino (Ceratotherium simum) are one of the most endangered African herbivore species. From a population estimate of over half a million the population declined catastrophically during the 20th century, principally due to unregulated hunting.
Regulation of trophy hunting and improved anti-poaching methods across sub-Saharan Africa did check this decline and the population of white rhino is now estimated at 20,165. The species is listed as Near Threatened by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITIES). However, a renewed demand of rhino horn for the illegal Asian medicine market has once again put the rhino under significant threat, especially in South Africa where poaching incidents have increased by more than 50 fold between 2007 and 2012. An estimated 668 individuals were poached in 2012 and in 2013 this figure rose to 1004!! (SA DEA rhino poaching stats). The threats to the long-term persistence of rhinos is further compromised by its highly localized geography, with 98% of all white rhino’s currently found in only 4 countries; South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

The Okavango Delta, Botswana and surrounding areas have historically supported both black and white rhinos, and illustrates that the Delta contains habitats, resources and water necessary for rhinos to flourish. In 2001 the first of 32 white rhino were re-introduced to the Delta and have since bred and dispersed, whilst the protection offered to them has meant that poaching incidents have been minimal. The estimated population in Botswana is now at least 38 individuals.

The success of the 2001 reintroduction demonstrates the potential the Delta has in acting as a safe haven and gene depository for southern Africa's white rhino. This led to the development of another project to relocate rhinos from currently well stocked but threatened reserves in South Africa to the heart of the Delta.

The research I am carrying out is the foundation of my PhD with Bristol University's renowned Mammal Research Unit.
My self funded study will involve following the rhino in my trusty, or should I say rusty Land Rover and gathering the necessary data to contribute to the success and planning of future rhino translocations not just in Botswana but other areas of Africa.

What is the significance of this project?

The re-introduction of these rhino to the southern Okavango Delta offers a unique opportunity to see how a territorial species utilises a novel environment.

There is little in the scientific press on how long-lived herbivore species utilise novel areas. Much of the detailed work that has occurred has either involved studying areas where existing ranges were extended or historical ranges re-established, or have been limited to fenced ranches rather than releases into fully functional ‘wild’ systems.

This re-location offers the unique opportunity to study the release of rhino into a fully functional system that has limited anthropogenic barriers and a small existing rhino population.

The Okavango Delta’s mosaic vegetation structure coupled with the substantial temporal and spatial variability that naturally exists in the system makes the study of increased interest. It will allow the rhinos to access a wide variety of habitats within small geographical distances, yet will require them to adapt to changes in resource availability that occur as a result of the area’s unique double moisture system.

At current rates of poaching the population of African white rhino will go into decline within 2 years (IUCN - Species Survival Commission).

Translocation offers hope for the continued existence of the species. This study will provide important information on how well the rhinos are adapting to their new environment, thereby providing the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and other interested parties with important data on how re-located herbivores establish themselves in highly spatially and temporally varied environments such as the Okavango Delta.

I have since been given permission to monitor the existing wild rhino population in the Delta and will study the interaction between the introduced rhino and wild black and white rhino (introduced in 2001).

Such detailed and rigorous data will benefit planning for future releases both in Botswana and across the continent.

What are the goals of the project?

In this study I will investigate how the introduced rhinos use their new environment.
The multi-dimensional study will use detailed movement data from the rhinos’ satellite collars as well as GIS (graphic information systems) imagery and ground based vegetation and behavioural surveys to assess space-use by the rhinos, identify the principle determining factors and how these change with time post-release.

My primary research questions are:-

How does space-use by the relocated rhinos change with season, sex and time post release?

What habitat and resource preferences are the rhinos demonstrating and how is this affecting home range size and shape?

How does sociability change with time post release?

How do the rhino interact with the existing white and black rhino population?

The project will be disseminated in multiple ways to ensure the project is highly relevant and applied results can be utilised by ecosystem managers and conservationists in Botswana and beyond.

Initial dissemination will occur through quarterly reports to the DWNP.

At the end of the project the data will be used for PhD thesis.

A full report will be produced for the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT), DWNP and other relevant departments.