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BLACK
RHINO
RESEARCH
(Hluhluwe-Umfolozi
Reserve,
South Africa)
The
Black Rhino Research Programme is primarily based in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park
in South Africa, a 96,000 hectare reserve which holds approximately 10% of the world's black rhino population
as well as all of Africa's "Big 5" wildlife - lion, leopard,
elephant, buffalo and white rhino.
Black
rhinoceros are a critically endangered species and their conservation in
the wild requires a strong scientific basis in ecology and behavior.
Research primarily focuses on (1)
how individual black rhinoceros respond to capture and release and (2) how
the populations of black rhinoceros from which individuals are removed,
and into which others are released, are influenced by those removals and
re-introductions. Our hope is that a better understanding of these aspects
will help population managers enhance black rhinoceros breeding and
survival in the wild.
The Black Rhino Research Programme collaborates
with the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF-SA) Black Rhinoceros Range Expansion
Project in the re-introduction of black rhinoceros to other reserves in
the region. In 2004 and 2005 we were part of the translocation of 15 and
21 black
rhinoceros, respectively, to Phinda Resource Reserve and Zululand Rhino
Reserve. We anticipate similar
translocations to other reserves in 2006. Our work is a
collaborative venture between several South African and international
organisations and our research benefits from financial support from the
San Diego Zoo, Rhinoceros & Tiger Conservation Fund of the US Fish
& Wildlife Service, and the International Rhino Foundation.
The research is
conducted by a team of research assistants and students from Nelson
Mandela Metropolitan University and the
University of Witswatersrand in South Africa, and Victoria University of
Wellington, New Zealand. The volunteer
programme was established to assist those students and research assistants
in conducting their day-to-day research activities. Our hope is that the
assistance and additional support that volunteers bring will ensure the
continuance of the research programme so that it can make a longer-term
and more considerable contribution to black rhinoceros conservation. Our
most important activities currently being conducted are:
Donor population
dynamics
– Each year rhinoceros are
removed from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park for re-introduction to other reserves. This
helps enhance
breeding in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park by preventing over-population. However population
managers are concerned that removals may have other negative consequences for
the habitat and population that need to be taken into account when
designing removals regimes. Each year we install
radio transmitters in the horns of black rhinoceros and monitor their
behaviour and movements. The information gathered will help us understand
how the removal of rhino from the population influences
its breeding performance.
Re-introduction population dynamics
–
Each year black rhinoceros captured in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park are
moved to new reserves in an effort to re-introduce them to their former
range and contribute to the species recovery. We install radio
transmitters in each rhino captured and monitor them after they are
released. We are particularly interested in how the behaviour of black
rhino might be managed by spreading their dung at the release site before
they arrive as a way of reducing conflict between the rhino and the time
it takes them to establish themselves.
Stress, breeding and
behaviour during translocation
– Before captured wild black rhinoceros are released into new reserves
they necessarily must spend a period of time in captivity. The rhino are
held in strong enclosures called “boma” for 2 - 8 weeks. Most
regard this time as important to their successful release because it
provides an opportunity for managers to improve their body condition by
feeding them high-quality food and gives the rhino time to adjust to the
stress of capture. Nevertheless, captivity may generate a physiological
stress response in black rhino that suppresses their reproductive
potential. We are investigating the behaviour and physiology of black
rhinoceros in boma to measure the implications that temporary captivity
has for breeding and determine the ideal boma time before
release.
Volunteer Work
All volunteer
activities support the objectives of the Black Rhino Research Programme. Volunteers will be working under the supervision of
research assistants from South African universities, studying aspects of
black rhino ecology and behaviour that are important to their
conservation. The
project provides volunteers with a ‘hands-on’ experience of
‘in-the-field’ conservation research in a region rich with the
wildlife, natural landscapes and culture of southern Africa. It will be an
opportunity to learn and expand your life-experience beyond what would be
possible as a tourist while making a valuable contribution to our
understanding and conservation of black rhinoceros. You will gain a practical experience and up-to-the-minute insight
of conservation research in action.
Likely
field activities may include:
-Radio
tracking black rhino to determine their locations and movements throughout
the reserves
-Evening
observations at waterholes to monitor black rhino social and spatial
behaviour
-Bush-walking
surveys of vegetation and rhino tracks/ signs
-Participating
in rhinoceros capture, sampling, the installation of horn implant
transmitters in their horns and eventual release
Black rhinoceros research is a serious activity and viewing this
magnificent animal in the wild is normally a rare, and potentially dangerous, activity. Black rhinoceros are renowned for being aggressive
towards people. It cannot be guaranteed that volunteers
will view black rhinoceros on foot in the wild. Nevertheless, some
volunteers, depending on the time of their visit,
do get to see rhinoceros
when they are captured, in boma or being released. Although
black rhino are the focus of the programme, there will be many
opportunities during fieldwork to view Africa's other wildlife and
interact with local people working with wildlife.
Other Activities
Our field sites are
within 2 hours drive of several towns including Mkuzi, Mtubatuba and
Richards Bay but there is no public transport to town.
Volunteers will have an opportunity to visit town approximately
once every 2 weeks in coordination with trips to collect food and
supplies. The nearest towns are sometimes small but have all the usual
amenities, including medical doctors, supermarkets, internet cafes and restaurants. Our
field sites are near the world famous surfing beaches of South Africa’s
eastern coast on the Indian Ocean, St Lucia world heritage sites, the
heartland of the Zulu culture, and the superb Drakensberg Mountains.
Field Conditions
The
field conditions vary a lot depending on
the different sites. Sometimes volunteers will sleep in a farm-house or
hut/cabin but volunteers must also be prepared to live in a tent.
Nevertheless, all sites have modern, but basic, communal kitchen and
bathroom facilities. The climate at the field sites can be varied.
Volunteers should not underestimate how hot and cold South Africa can be
– both warm and cool clothing is required.
In the spirit of
‘field camp life’ volunteers will be expected to share in the
maintenance and domestic activities in camp. That means contributing to
cooking and cleaning. We have found that volunteers
who are prepared to share in the day-to-day domestic activities of the
group have a richer experience and positive interaction with their student
and researcher hosts. Activities ‘back-at-camp’ will include sharing
in cooking, cleaning and equipment repair and maintenance, and data
capture on field laptop computers.
Volunteers
are required to sign indemnity forms acknowledging and accepting the
consequences of working in close contact with wild animals in the African
bush. Applicants must be over 18 years old.
Training /
Qualifications
Soon after each volunteer arrives they will be given an orientation
including a visual introduction to the larger ideas and goals that are the
background to the research project, including our current understanding of
black rhinoceros behaviour and ecology, and a tour of the field site and
reserve where they will be working. Full training in radio
telemetry and animal/vegetation survey in the African bush will be given.
For volunteers who stay for 4 weeks or more, the project
can provide
volunteers (upon request) with a letter of reference detailing the
volunteers contribution, experience and accomplishment during their stay.
The program is designed to train and educate volunteers to a level of
competence as a field assistant in a way that will facilitate future
opportunities for them.
Costs
2 weeks: GB£695 / US$1395
3 weeks: GB£845 / US$1695
4 weeks: GB£995 / US$1995
*Joint
Discount*
Volunteers receive a
US$100 / GB£50 discount when joining multiple Enkosini Eco Experience programmes.
The volunteers
contribution covers accommodation, meals, and living expenses in the
field. Flights, travel/medical insurance and transport to/from Richards
Bay are not included. The only additional spending money required will be for
personal purchases (curios, alcohol, soda, luxury/imported goods,
chocolates, sweets, toiletries), social excursions away from field camp,
and pre/post project travel.
Dates
There are no
set dates for this project, although
we always try to organize arrivals/departures on working week days
(Monday – Friday) to coincide with weekly town trips for food/supplies
etc (see also timing for flight arrival/departure below for preferred
domestic flights between Johannesburg and Richards Bay). Volunteers just
need to inform us of the date they are planning to arrive.
Transport
The towns most visited
intermittently for supplies from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
National Park and other reserves are Mkuzi,
Mtubatuba, and Richards Bay. These towns are approximately 450 km from
Johannesburg and 60-110 km from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi.
Buses and flights are
available from Johannesburg to Richards Bay and arrangements will be made
to collect incoming volunteers from Richards Bay (either
airport or bus depot).
The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi has restricted entry hours (gates close
at 18h00) so volunteers must arrive into Richards Bay by no later than
15h00 for pick-up.
By Plane –
Johannesburg to Richards Bay Airport
Flights leave from
domestic terminal at Johannesburg International Airport. There are 2
flights every weekday and Sunday and 1 flight on Saturdays. The flight
takes 90 minutes. These flights are conducted by SA Express or SA Airlink.
Please do not take any flights that arrive before 10h00 or after 15h00.
By Bus – Johannesburg
to Richards Bay
There are 2 buses a
day serviced by two companies:
Greyhound (http://www.greyhound.co.za/)
and Translux (http://www.translux.co.za/).
Since the buses arrive after 15h00, you will have to travel the day before
your programme starts and overnight in Richards Bay. Bus tickets can
also be purchased at www.computicket.com.
If
you need to overnight in Richards Bay either before or after your
programme, the Black Rhino staff can pick you up or drop you off at the
Formula One Hotel in Richards Bay (www.formulaone.co.za).
Packing List
Bush
clothing (i.e.,
dull coloured, hard wearing)
Hat
or cap/peak (dull colour)
Waterproof
jacket
Long
sleeved/legged clothing (chilly evenings, keeps mosquitoes off)
Walking/hiking
shoes or boots (comfortable)
Sunscreen
lotion
Insect
repellent (ticks and mosquitoes)
Personal
toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste etc)
Personal
medication
Binoculars
Waterbottle
Torch/flashlight
Sleeping
pad (bed linen supplied)
Testimonials
"Just being in Africa is
amazing, life is everywhere and everything, its ‘in your face’ all the
time. Working for the project
enabled us to live in and around the animals we were studying, and also
with local people. This gave
us first hand knowledge of the realities of conservation and was an
incredible experience for me… … Another great thing about having
worked for the project and conservation in general was that we were often
asked what we had done to help Africa?
And it was great to be able to say “I’ve spent the last 5
months helping to understand and save one of your most endangered
species.” Working in Africa is phenomenal. Wayne’s project and expertise make this possible and it was
through his project that I was able to have an experience that is not
possible from sitting in a hide at a waterhole or on a safari. So it is without the slightest hesitation that I
wholeheartedly encourage anyone with a sense of adventure to volunteer for
this project."
–Blair Reid, New Zealand.
"I
was one of the first volunteers to help with the Black Rhino Research
Programme. I had just finished my degree in zoology and was really keen to
fulfill my life long dream to see Africa and it's wildlife. To help out
with the project was a real adventure for me, every day brought something
new. It was a great opportunity to see some of Africa’s most impressive
wildlife. Having done the trip I have no regrets, only fond memories and a
yearning to return."
–Braden Crocker, New Zealand.
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