Black Rhino calf born at Somkhanda

May 12, 2008;

First Black Rhino Calf Born in Somkhanda Game Reserve

The WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project leader Dr Jacques Flamand reports that one of the female black rhinos released into the community-run Somkhanda Game Reserve near Mkhuze town in November 2007 has given birth to a calf.

"When the group of 11 black rhinos were released into the Somkhanda Game Reserve one of the females was already pregnant and it is this female that has given birth," said Dr Flamand.

"Both WWF and our partner in the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, are very pleased with this birth as it does confirm that the animals have settled down well into their new homes," he added.

Sokhanda Game Reserve is the property of the Gumbi community and is the first community-run game reserve to be included in the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project.

Apart from the initial group of eleven black rhinos delivered by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to the area in November 2007, 10 White Rhino captured in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park will be delivered in the course of this week, bringing the total number of rhino in the reserve to 21.

The Black Rhino Range Expansion Project is a co-operative effort between WWF SA and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to increase the range of the black rhino and in so doing to improve the breeding potential of the species.

MNZ News Item 17 April 2008