scholarly journals Habitat changes reduce the carrying capacity of Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa, for Critically Endangered black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis

Oryx ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Reid ◽  
Rob Slotow ◽  
Owen Howison ◽  
Dave Balfour
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Habitat Changes ◽  
Diceros Bicornis ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Stocking Rates

AbstractThe Critically Endangered black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis occurs mainly in protected areas. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa, contains a key source population for black rhino conservation, and declining population productivity has been attributed to negative habitat changes and a reduction in carrying capacity. As home range increase may be an index of declining habitat quality we determined the home ranges of the black rhino in the Park and compared these ranges with previous estimates. The average size of the home ranges during 1991–2001 was 23.07 ± SE 0.81 km2, which is 54% greater than in the 1980s. Sex and the availability of water did not influence home ranges. Home ranges decreased in winter. Female:male ratios varied across the Park, indicating that one or both sexes may prefer specific areas. Changes in vegetation structure and composition may have caused rhino to maintain larger ranges in order to meet their nutritional requirements. Ongoing review of stocking rates, population performance (including indicators such as range size), and intervention strategies are necessary to manage black rhino in dynamic savannah ecosystems.

scholarly journals The reproductive success of black rhinoceroses in the Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoliswa N. Nhleko ◽  
Dan M. Parker ◽  
Dave J. Druce
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Ecological Carrying Capacity ◽  
Diceros Bicornis ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Southern Central ◽  
Target Period ◽  
The Mean

Black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) are endangered and the southern-central sub-species (Diceros bicornis minor) is considered critically endangered. We assessed the reproductive lifehistories of black rhinoceroses in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park (HiP), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to determine whether this historically important donor sub-population was meeting regional reproductive targets. Detailed life-history information for known individuals (n = 79–120) was used to investigate reproductive parameters between 1998 and 2013. Mean age at sexual maturity was 12 years, which exceeded a target period of 7 years and 5 months. The mean inter-calving interval was 3 years and 8 months – 8 months longer than the recommended 3 years. The poor population performance of the HiP black rhinoceroses could be a result of poor habitat quality, poor animal condition, females losing their first calves, predation of calves or a negative social effect of annual live-harvesting of the population. However, we believe that the estimated ecological carrying capacity of black rhinoceroses at HiP (a figure used to ascertain whether the population can be harvested at all) may be incorrect, leading to the poor reproductive performance. We recommend that the accuracy of the ecological carrying capacity estimate be assessed as a matter of urgency and that a moratorium be placed on the live-harvesting of individuals until the estimate has been refined.Conservation implications: Our results provide key data which can be used to refine black rhinoceros breeding targets in South Africa and the region more broadly

Observations on the Pathology of Lesions Associated with Stephanofilaria dinniki Round, 1964 from the Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

1964 ◽  
Vol 38 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 171-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Tremlett
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Diceros Bicornis ◽  
Made In

In South Africa, a filarioid infestation has been associated with lesions in the skin of the black rhinoceros (Schulz and Kluge, 1960). Similar lesions had been reported earlier from Kenya, as consistently occurring in these animals but their aetiology was unknown (Spinage, 1960). Recently the opportunity occurred to examine lesion material from four black rhinoceros located in the Royal Tsavo National Park Kenya. From this material adult helminths were recovered and identified (Round, 1964), and further pathological studies made. In addition, one rhinoceros showed evidence of an otitis.

scholarly journals Pulmonary Infection due to Mycobacterium bovis in a Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis minor) in South Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 1187-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian W. Espie ◽  
Tiny M. Hlokwe ◽  
Nicolaas C. Gey van Pittius ◽  
Emily Lane ◽  
Adrian S. W. Tordiffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mycobacterium Bovis ◽  
Pulmonary Infection ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Diceros Bicornis

scholarly journals Colonization of Non-Traditional Range in Dispersing Elk, Cervus elaphus nelsoni, Populations

2007 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Van Dyke
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Source Population ◽  
South Central ◽  
Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni ◽  
Patterns Of Use ◽  
Source Populations ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Central Montana

As ungulate populations increase in density on traditional range, resulting increases in intraspecific competition can encourage dispersal of some individuals to new areas. Such areas, although lower in density of conspecifics, might present unfamiliar arrays and types of habitat that could require altered patterns of home range and habitat use by dispersers. However, the specific adaptations employed by dispersers in such circumstances are not well documented or understood. I investigated three cases of range expansion by Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) populations experiencing population growth on traditional ranges in south-central Montana, USA. Each source population produced a group that dispersed to non-traditional areas. Compared to source populations, dispersing groups increased average size of home ranges, changed patterns of use in core areas of home ranges, and used habitats differently than Elk on traditional range. Dispersing groups demonstrated fidelity to new ranges equal to that of source populations, but their seasonal tenure on non-traditional range was strongly linked to environmental conditions, especially rainfall. Dispersal of groups increased the overall range of the population and its range of habitat use. In growing populations of Elk, managers should determine if dispersing groups exist and whether they should be protected to establish new populations in marginal areas or be reduced to limit potential Elk-landowner conflicts.

Impact of the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis minor) on a local population ofEuphorbia bothaein the Great Fish River Reserve, South Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bodina L. Luske ◽  
Tonja Mertens ◽  
Peter C. Lent ◽  
Willem F. de Boer ◽  
Herbert H. T. Prins
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Diceros Bicornis

scholarly journals Abstracts of papers from the Rhinoceros Conservation Workshop, Skukuza, Kruger National Park,31 August – 4 September 1988

Koedoe ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Editorial Office
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Diceros Bicornis ◽  
Conservation Plan ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Vital Factor

The following abstracts is included: 1.) Finances: the vital factor in rhinoceros conservation 2.) Towards a black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis translocation strategy to meet the aims of the conservation plan for the species in South Africa and the TBVC states 3.) Status, history and performance of black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis populations in South Africa, the TBVS states and Namibia 4.) Distribution and monitoring of black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis populations in Zimbabwe 5.) Census and marking systems for black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis with special reference to Zulu- land game reserves 6.) The Auxiliary Game Guard System in northwestern Namibia and its role in black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis conservation 7.) Black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis capture and translocation techniques as used in Etosha National Park 8.) The role of non-governmental organisations in black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis conservation in Africa 9.) Development of an intelligence/information network to counter poaching and the illegal trade in trophies

SERUM IRON AND SELECTED BIOCHEMICAL VALUES IN FREE-RANGING BLACK RHINOCEROS (DICEROS BICORNIS) FROM SOUTH AFRICA

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (3s) ◽  
pp. S55-S60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Miller ◽  
Francisco Olea-Popelka ◽  
Jennifer Joubert ◽  
Nomkhosi Mathebula ◽  
David Zimmerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Serum Iron ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Diceros Bicornis ◽  
Free Ranging
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