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Some rhino pics I took between Berg-en-Dal and Afsaal.
White rhino.

Hi Folks

Herewith the media release on the translocation. It was a "joint" exercise between us and Wilderness Safaris (the concession operating in the Makuleke region - Pafuri - of the KNP).

Hope this helps.

Kind regards
KNP Spokesman


PRESS RELEASE

WHITE RHINO RELOCATION: PAFURI, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Thursday, 7 July 2005 SANParks, in a co-operation agreement with the Makuleke Community (the Pafuri landowners) and Wilderness Safaris, have relocated four white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) into the Pafuri region of the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa.

There has been an absence of resident white rhino in this area for approx 110-120 years and this re-introduction means the re-establishment of this long absent species in the area north of the Luvuvhu River. The rhino were captured by the SANParks Game Capture Unit (headed up by Dr Markus Hofmeyer) and were relocated from the Satara area. The cost of this capture and relocation will be borne by Wilderness Safaris as their part of the co-op agreement and as the concessionaires in the Pafuri region.

Since their local extinction in the lowveld in 1896, white rhino have been successfully re-established in the KNP which now boasts a large and healthy population of over 5000. These animals, the first re-introductions of which took place in 1961, are mostly restricted to the central and southern districts of the Park with only a very small population establishing itself north of Shingwedzi. The four white rhino introduced last week will enable the establishment of a much needed breeding nucleus further north of here in the Pafuri region. The habitat here is more suitable than the mopane veld which dominates much of the northern district and, as they settle and breed, the rhino will also play an important role as a selective bulk grazer and an important addition to the local ecosystem.

Aside from aiding the establishment of another white rhino population nucleus within the KNP, this release will also provide viewing opportunities of another high profile mammal species for guests of Wilderness Safaris at Pafuri Camp. This will further accentuate the already astoundingly high mammal diversity in the concession where more than 70% of the KNP's fauna is found in an area approximately 1% of its entire size.

Ends
_____
Notes:
- July 2005 - Wilderness Safaris' Pafuri Camp will be opening in the north of the KNP - South Africa. This follows on from the concession agreement signed between the Makuleke community and Wilderness Safaris in July last year.
- The Limpopo based Makuleke Community were dispossessed of their land in 1969, which they then claimed back in the country's change to democracy. The land was returned to them in 1998 and they became the first community to win back their land in a formally protected park or reserve. The community then made the decision to not resettle on their land in the park, but rather let their ancestral land retain its conservation and protection status as part of the KNP, so that they could earn benefits from leasing their land out to safari operators.
- This is a landmark example of a non-consumptive eco-tourism model on community owned land within the KNP. The project is based on a partnership between the community and Wilderness Safaris.

In 2003 we were in Punda Maria and had a morning walk with the two guides Eziquil and the KNP legend Danial. We were driving to the place where to put the car, when something nice happend. The guides told us that there must be a rhino in this area and that they have spotted the tracks of the rhino for two years without seeing him ever.Like a gohst. Than my son said suddenly, "You mean that rhino overthere". "Where where where" they shout. They coudn't see the rhino becouse we were sitting higher in the back of the car. The guides get nuts and jumped up and down of excitement. I start straightaway to film the rhino.Than they saw him to. It was a big male rhino and finally after two years, there he was. Behind the rhino was walking a hyena.I had never seen such a lucky people like these two nice guides. After a beautiful walk between the big baobab's we drove back to Punda Maria. In the restaurant the whole staff of Punda was comming to see the film of the gohst RHINO. Finally after two years there he was. And they called us the rhino people. I made a copy of the film for them and brought it with me the next time we visit Punda Maria again.

Kwenga, all I can tell you is that I have seen plenty of Rhinos drinking water on the Bushman's trail in July at night. What I also do know is that the prefer cleaner water. Nyalas are prefered night drinkers.

I saw 6 white rhinos drinking water at the secret waterhole near BnD on a sunset drive in March 2005, 5m away.

I have always seen rhino drinking water there.

I've prepared a short video snippet to send to the guys at 50/50 to hear what they have to say about the following incident. Maybe some of you have witnessed something similar before.

We sat in a game hide when a white rhino bull appeared. It strolled down to the water and had a drink. After he finished drinking, he strolled around to the other side of the waterhole, entered the water and made himself comfortable by lying down. Almost immediately a terrapin moved into his direction, aiming for the tail. We thought that this poor rhino is going to get it now. To our amazement the terrapin starting picking off the ticks from around the anus of the rhino. This carried on for a very long time until the rhino decided that it was time to return home.

Here are some of the photos I took in addition to the video footage.

This rhino "post" we sighted on a road between Skukuza and Lower Sabie.

A ranger once said to us that these "posts" were very old and they all lined up in southern africa to mark the trail of rhino migration in times when the animals were free to roam and migrate.

Do rhino's migrate? Is there any such evidence that they follwed migration routes and does anyone know of the "pattern of the rhino posts"?

Looking forward to input...

I have never heard of rhinos migrating and know for sure that bulls are very very territorial. The catankerous bull just south of BnD is a very good example of this.

He has many "toilets" in his area. A definite sign that he stays only in a specific area.

Elephant bulls however do some sort of roaming but they seem to have a designated area. Duke for instance roams the eastern boundary between Croc Bridge and Tshokwane. A huge area.

I've just returned from a quick "one nighter" in Pretoriuskop.

Saw a mother white rhino and an about two-year old calf at Kwaggaspan yesterday afternoon.

They were quietly pretending to graze in the shade near the water (Global warming was in full force) when a bull rhino came trotting out of the bush, obviously very interested in her romantic inclination.

The mother was not impressed, and squared up to the big bull, urinating copiously. The calf was a little confused, but when the mother charged the hapless Romeo it joined in the chase with energy!

The bull tried to get close to the urine (to have a sniff, I suppose), but it was obvious that he had missed the boat and his attitude changed. He even kicked the ground in frustration.

The curious thing was the loud roar given by the mother during her charge. It sounded like a cross between a lion and something from Jurassic Park.

I have only heard them squealing, on tape, and other than that they have been quiet, even at the bomas at Skukuza.

Does someone have info on Rhino calls?

Richprins

White/ Square-lipped Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium Simum)

Other Names:
Ger: Breitmaulnashorn
Afr: Witrenoster
Fre: Rhinoceros blanc
Xho, Zul: Umkhombe

Description:
Mass: 1400-2400 kg
Shoulder height: 1,5-1,9 m
ID Pointers:
- Very large.
- Massive horns which project upwards from the top of the nose.
- Long square lip.
- Head help low.
Lifespan: +/- 40 yrs
Predators: Lion & Wild Dog.
Scent glands: Perennial.
Senses: Poor sight but very good smell and hearing.
Horns: Both sexes carry horns which can grow up to 1,5m long. Cows have longer more slender horns.

Distribution in the Kruger National Park:
They are common in the Biyamiti, Malelane, Berg-en-Dal & Pretoriuskop areas. They also occur in the Skukuza, Lower Sabie, Crocodile Bridge, Talamati, Orpen, Maroela, Tamboti, Satara, Olifants, Balule, Roodewaal, Tsendze, Mopani, Boulders, Bateleur, Shingwedzi & Sirheni areas. They do not occur in the Letaba, Shimuwini & Punda Maria areas.

Behaviour:
They can reach speeds of up 45 kilometres per hour. They are both diurnal and nocturnal. Nursery herds are made up of a dominant bull, several cows with their calves. Territories can range up to 13,2 square kilometres. Territorial markings include dung middens, well-worn paths, urine spraying, ground scruffing and vegetation horning. Bulls are slightly territorial and cows are non-territorial. Home ranges can range up to 34,7 square kilometres. Calls include grunts, bellows, snorts, roars, shrieks and squeals.

Reproduction:
After a gestation of 16 months, a calf of 50-65 kilograms is born. Breeding takes place all year, with an average of 3 year intervals between births.

Food:
Short, new grasses. Water dependant.

Habitat:
Open woodland, open grassland and thickets.

Source: Mammals of the Kruger National Park - Heike Schutze

Thanks Mark!

Had a great sighting on my morning walk at Satara in Dec, we were walking and the ranger told us almost casually about the rhino about 30 meters away. We went around the bend of trees and shrubs to see two beautiful rhino in a clearing. The one had a MASSIVE horn. We were about 12 meters away and they walked off, having never even noticed us.

My pleasure WAC.

We also had a unique experience, while staying at Berg-en-Dal in 2001 we went on a late afternoon drive & as we were coming back from the Matjulu waterhole a female White Rhino caused a roadblock for cars on both sides of it, luckily we were right in front of it & as we waited and waited.... we saw something coming out from behind... we watched a White Rhino give birth. It was sheer bliss! The worst part we were out of film!

Wow, that is indeed something very unique Mark, not everyone gets to see an animal giving birth in Kruger, especially a Rhino.
How long did you stay afterwards?

Now why would they call them "square-lipped"?

Well we watched for about almost 2 hours, then we had manouver our way around them so we could make the gate, which we didn't. But what an experience!