header: White Rhinoceros
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Ceratotherium simum (Burchell, 1817)

CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES (numbered projects are WWF-projects)

Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan:5,7 Compiled by the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) African Elephant and Rhino Specialist Group in 1987, the Action Plan identified three areas of action to conserve A frican Rhinos: 1) political pressure to influence government policy in nations that illegally export or import rhinoceros horn; 2) promoting use of substitute materials (such as water buffalo horn) in place of rhino horn, and restriction of rhino horn tra de within and between Asian nations; 3) identification of priority areas for the rehabilitation of the White Rhinoceros, and its re-establishment as a component of the ecosystem in areas such as Garamba National Park, Zaïre. The African Rhino Special ist Group is preparing a revised Action Plan which is due to be completed in mid 1996 (Dublin, H., pers. comm.).

Table 1. White Rhinoceros total population estimates.


A table of data


Table 2. 1996 estimated populations of the Northern White Rhinoceros and Southern White Rhinoceros.


A table of data


TRAFFIC: WWF has been working to reduce illegal trade in plants and animals, including the trade in rhino horn through Project 9Z0488: Strengthening Implementation and Effectiveness of CITES. Illegal trade is also the focus of Project 9Z0420: Coord ination and Development of the TRAFFIC Network. TRAFFIC is WWF's wildlife trade monitoring arm. WWF is supporting regional TRAFFIC offices which monitor the illegal trade in rhino horn (Project 9F0070). The East/Southern African branch of TRAFFIC recently set out a controversial range of options for improving the status of rhinos, including legalising trade in rhino horn, organized trophy hunting, sale of live rhinos, increasing conservation efforts and the controlled sale of rhino horn from stockpiles.6,9

Dehorning programmes:6,9 In 1991, 59 White Rhinos were dehorned in Hwange and Kazuma Pan National Parks, in order to remove the incentive for hunting. Monitoring their progress for the following three years showed no apparent social ill effects from dehorning. It has been argued that if trade in rhino horn were permitted the revenue raised from the sale of the amputated horns could be used to fund conservation activities. WWF is currently funding emergency support for Black and White Rhinos in Zimbabwe by translocating rhinos from areas of high poaching activity to areas of relative safety and dehorning them. By August 1993, 122 Black and 111 White Rhinos had been dehorned. There is evidence that dehorned rhinos are l eft unharmed. The Zimbabwe Government has now halted the dehorning programme (Dublin, H., pers. comm.).

Alternative Dagger Handles:15 During 1994, attractive and durable dagger handles were made from locally quarried agate in Yemen, and these have proved very popular. The ready acceptance of the new handles as alternati ves to rhino horn may be due to the fact that they are not made from artificial substances or materials newly introduced to Yemen. At least 70 kg of raw rhino horn was smuggled into Yemen during 1994, representing the death of a minimum of 24 rhinos. 20

Identification of Rhino Horn Use:3 Research at the US National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory recently produced preliminary results, identifying a unique pattern for keratin protein found in rhino horn. This ma y enable the identification of the presence of rhino products in Oriental medicines. The process is currently undergoing refinement.

Africa General:1,8 In southern Africa, a Rhinoceros Management Group has been formed to co-ordinate conservation activities. A plan is being implemented in South Africa, Namibia, and the states of Transkei, Venda, Bop huthatswana, and Ciskei. Its main role will be facilitating the conservation goals for the species by evaluating the effectiveness of current programmes, developing new strategies, and providing management advice to conservation authorities. Project 9F008 4: African Rhino Emergency Fund makes funds available for a wide range of rhino conservation projects, including emergency action for conservation, support for the IUCN/SSC African Rhino Specialist Group28 and an economic an alysis of rhino conservation strategies. Project 9F0089: Programme Officer, Species and Protected Areas supports a programme officer based in Nairobi to identify the conservation needs of threatened species such as rhinos and elephants.

Malawi: The Malawi Dept. of National Parks and Wildlife serves as a technical advisor to southern African countries on wildlife matters. Project MW0013: Support to SADC Wildlife Sector Coordination Unit is supporting this function.

Namibia: Although Project NA0013: Conservation of Rhino Population of Etosha National Park was set up to protect the black rhino population, some white rhinos have just been translocated to the Park from South Africa.

South Africa: Funds have been given to WWF South Africa to improve rhino security in Hluhluwe and Umfolozi National Parks and Mkuzi Game Reserve.

Zambia: WWF supports the Anti-Corruption Commission which is cracking down on the illegal trade in rhino horn. The Commission's work has led to the arrest of "middlemen" involved in the illegal wildlife trade. Project ZM0018: Support for Wildlife S pecies Protection Dept also carries out conservation education.

Zaire:8 The Garamba National Park contains the only remaining population of the Northern White Rhino. A project is currently in operation, funded in part by WWF (Project ZR0009) and executed by the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Institute Zai rois pour la Conservation de la Nature. The project includes anti-poaching activities and monitoring of the rhino population and its habitat. Thanks to improved security, rhino numbers have increased and now stand at 31. The Zaïre Government has rece ntly authorized the translocation of some individuals out of Garamba in order to establish a second wild population of the Northern White Rhino27 but is unlikely to be undertaken in the near future (Dublin, H., pers. comm.).

Swaziland:8 During 1994-95 the South African Nature Foundation (WWF-South Africa) spent over US $20,000 for the conservation of rhinos. Support is being given for anti-poaching activities and management of the White R hino in the Mkhaya Reserve.


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