Female african rhinoceros1/21/2024 ![]() ![]() This decrease has come about mainly because of poaching in the 1970's and 1980's, and the recent escalation in rhinoceros poaching (IUCN 2012). Globally, the conservation status of the southern-central black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis minor) is critically endangered as a result of a population decrease of approximately 80% over the last three generations (International Union for Conservation of Nature 2012). We recommend that the accuracy of the ecological carrying capacity estimate be assessed as a matter of urgency and that a moratorium be placed on the live-harvesting of individuals until the estimate has been refined.ĬONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS: Our results provide key data which can be used to refine black rhinoceros breeding targets in South Africa and the region more broadly. However, we believe that the estimated ecological carrying capacity of black rhinoceroses at HiP (a figure used to ascertain whether the population can be harvested at all) may be incorrect, leading to the poor reproductive performance. The poor population performance of the HiP black rhinoceroses could be a result of poor habitat quality, poor animal condition, females losing their first calves, predation of calves or a negative social effect of annual live-harvesting of the population. The mean inter-calving interval was 3 years and 8 months - 8 months longer than the recommended 3 years. Mean age at sexual maturity was 12 years, which exceeded a target period of 7 years and 5 months. ![]() Detailed life-history information for known individuals ( n = 79-120) was used to investigate reproductive parameters between 19. We assessed the reproductive life-histories of black rhinoceroses in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to determine whether this historically important donor sub-population was meeting regional reproductive targets. IVSchool of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africaīlack rhinoceroses ( Diceros bicornis) are endangered and the southern-central sub-species ( Diceros bicornis minor) is considered critically endangered. IIIEzemvelo KZN Wildlife, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa IISchool of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, South Africa IDepartment of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, South Africa The reproductive success of black rhinoceroses in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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