A Baby Rhino Has Been Born! - News And Pictures From The Rhino and Elephant Conservation Project

Posted by Michael Starbuck on 24th Nov 2017

A lot has been happening at the Rhino and Elephant Conservation Project over the last month or so, so let’s take a look!

Meet The Projects Newest Member!

We recently received an update from the team in Zimbabwe and we are delighted to tell you all about their newest addition, a baby white rhino!

The baby was born on October the 22^nd and she is a very happy and healthy young rhino, even if her name hasn’t been decided yet!

Volunteers have been lucky enough to spend around 2-3 hours per week with both mum and baby, and they have been helping with monitoring her health and activity levels, and simply just enjoying his cheeky antics!

Volunteers Got The Chance To Really Get Stuck In!

There is always a lot of work that needs doing on the reserve, but luckily Morgan the volunteer coordinator is here to talk us through what the volunteers have been getting up to over the past month!

“Volunteers assisted in undertaking another successful game capture in October, and we are once again proud to help areas where wildlife is dwindling repopulate. Game capture is a truly unique way to be very hands on and make real difference, and we are proud to be able to trust our volunteers with assisting in such an important operation – it is a huge highlight for every person involved.”

When we asked Morgan about why game capture was such an important activity at the reserve she told us:

"Extinction of many species of wildlife in Africa, and across the world, is a very real possibility in our lifetimes. We strive to remain at the forefront of conservation and small privately-run conservancies play a vital role in conservation in Africa. Game capture and relocation is an important part of ensuring that what wildlife we have left is correctly managed and protected. Areas like the project site build and retain vital natural gene pools of wildlife and sustain remaining numbers of viable populations – safeguarding them in smaller, more secure, and easier to monitor areas.

These gene pools can then ultimately be utilized to help repopulate areas most severely affected by poaching, over population and conflict. Game capture allows volunteers a rare opportunity to work hands on safely capturing wildlife, alongside highly experience wildlife operators and veterinarians, for relocation into new areas. Once wildlife is transferred into these new areas, wildlife stakeholders are able to further protect these vital gene pools and continue establishing sustainable and varied bloodlines across the country and Africa”.

Morgan then carried on telling us about some of the other exciting activities that had been taking place!

“As you know, rhino dehorning took place a few weeks ago. Our white rhino bull was fitted with a new anklet during this operation.

Volunteers have been learning to use telemetry tracking equipment of late, to assist in locating and protecting our resident rhino. Everyone has enjoyed making use of the new equipment - It has been such an interesting skill to understand and a useful addition to our anti-poaching tactics.”

There is Exciting News From The Volunteer House Too…

As you may be aware from previous pictures from the project, the volunteer house is home to two adorable dogs, namely Spud and Tilly. Well, this four-legged volunteer family has grown larger over the last month as the newest member of the pack, a dog named Scruffy, begins to settle into life on the reserve. Scruffy was recently rescued, and this troublesome trio now spend their days helping volunteers to settle into the house!

We love hearing about what has gone on at this amazing project, and we can’t wait to see what happens at the Rhino and Elephant Conservation Project by the end of the year!

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