Abstract
Wildlife reintroduction regulations require feasibility assessment to inform planning. The study aims to contribute to the existing knowledge on northern Gonarezhou National Park (GNP), southeastern Zimbabwe, prior to the black rhino re-introduction project. The study objective was to assess browse availability and suitability for black rhino re-introduction in northern GNP. We stratified the study area into two strata, i.e. north and south of Runde River in GNP. A total of 96 sample plots measuring 20 m × 30 m (i.e., 48 plots in each study stratum) were randomly placed across the study strata, between March and April 2011. Woody plant variables recorded are: shrub height, shrub canopy diameters, evidence of browsing on woody plants, number of shrubs and woody species. Principal browse frequency of occurrence and proportional quality of woody species were categorized and analyzed in combination with knowledge on the woody species’ value to black rhino diet. Preferred woody species were determined using browse suitability/electivity index. A total of 3201 woody plants were recorded across the study strata. Woody species diversity and black rhino’s browse suitability/electivity value significantly (p = 0.001) differed across the study strata. However, there were no significant differences in shrub density, shrub canopy volume and density of browsed plants. Common principal forages were recorded and included: knob thorn Acacia (Acacia nigrescens), small-leaved sickle-bush (Dichrostachys cineria) and tamboti (Spirostachys africana). The study suggested that black rhino’s browse suitability, preferred browse woody species, woody species diversity and proportional browse availability, as selected attributes are favorably more pronounced in the northern side of the Runde River in GNP, suggesting it is more suitable as a sanctuary for the black rhino re-introduction programme. It was recommended that black rhinos could be re-introduced in the northern GNP area provided other important factors such as law enforcement are taken into consideration.
Highlights
In the Middle Eocene period, the true Rhino family (Rhinocerotidae) was a very abundant and diverse group of mammals and widely distributed throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, with 41 genera and 142 species [1] [2] [3]
There were no significant differences in shrub density, shrub canopy volume and density of browsed plants
In order to estimate the browse suitability/electivity index scores, we considered the successional stage of woody plants in the plots, share of principal taxa/forage woody species preferred by black rhinos, canopy volume of the shrub layer, percentage cover of shrubs
Summary
In the Middle Eocene period, the true Rhino family (Rhinocerotidae) was a very abundant and diverse group of mammals and widely distributed throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, with 41 genera and 142 species [1] [2] [3]. By the end of Pleistocene, most rhino species became extinct in most areas they used to exist mainly due to hunting and over-exploitation, today the family is confined to the sub-Saharan Africa and south-east Asia. Following local extirpation of black rhinos in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP), southeastern Zimbabwe around the 1940s, the first two rhinos appear to have been released during 1969 [9]. The second introduction of 77 black rhinos was conducted in the present GNP, Zimbabwe during the 1970s, and this was after the first local extirpation in the park. Poaching of wildlife in GNP increased, e.g. the number of black rhinoceros killed peaked to 51 in 1984 and by 1994 the black rhinos were locally extinct in GNP for the second time [6] [9]. At the peak of rhino poaching in Zimbabwe in the late 1980s, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), a state agency with the overall responsibility for wildlife protection, decided to relocate all black rhinos from vulnerable areas across the country and confine them to four state owned Intensive Protection Zones (IPZs) in Zimbabwe (i.e., Sinamatella, Matopos, Matusadona National Park and Chipinge Safari Area/Intensive Protection Zone) and private conservancies for enhanced protection [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
