Allafrica.com
The Namibian (Windhoek)
July 17, 2003-- THE census team of Save-the-Rhino
Trust (SRT) found two new rhino recently - a mother and calf that
have never been recorded previously.
"After 21 years of monitoring the
rhino we still find new ones, which is one reason why it is so important
to keep patrolling," the SRT monthly bulletin reported the
good news.
One ranger who thought he knew every
rhino in Kunene explained the phenomenon saying: "They must
have fallen from heaven".
Also reported in the newsletter is that
the poaching of rhino has effectively stopped.
SRT operates in conjunction with community
and Government operating five-weekly patrols by vehicle, or on foot,
camel and donkey across an area of mountains, desert and sun-burned
plains covering thousands of square kilometers.
"We work with local communities
and ecotourism initiatives and are determined that Kunene and its
extraordinary wildlife and people will survive and live in harmony".
There is also close co-operation between
SRT and Rudi Loutit in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to
raise rhino populations throughout Namibia and restore them to their
former glory.
Namibia is home to almost one third
of all Africa's remaining black rhino and 95% of the desert adapted
sub species (Diceros bicornis bicornis).
The goal of SRT is to increase the Namibian
rhino population to 2,000 animals by the year 2030.
To put this figure into perspective
there were barely 2,000 black rhino left in the whole of Africa
in 1990.
In 1970 there were 65 000.
In 1900, it is believed there were 100,000.
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