Title:

Namibia's black rhino custodianship program

Author(s):
Publication Year:
2020
Abstract:

Namibia's vision for its black rhinoceros is that by 2030 Diceros bicornis bicornis will be re-established in viable, healthy breeding populations throughout its former range; and that it will be sustainably utilized through photo tourism and conservation hunting. One of the strategic objectives of Vision 2030 is to establish black rhinos across all three of Namibia's land-tenure systems - state-protected areas, communal conservancies and private freeholds - in order to use all available vacant habitat. Sparked by Vision 2030, after careful planning and preparation Namibia's Black Rhino Custodianship Program officially kicked off on April 14, 1993, when the first six animals were translocated to a freehold farm under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the farmer and MET, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Later that year, on July 29, five more black rhinos were moved to a second freehold farm. At the time, the two farms had a combined area of 29,300 hectares (72,400 acres). The rhinos came from national parks, as Namibia has no zoo rhinos. All black rhinos in Namibia are state-owned; white rhinos are not part of the custodianship program because they can be privately owned.

Item Type:
Report
Language:
en
Files: