Black rhinoceros(Diceros bicornis L.)sub‐population on the Serengeti Plains, Tanzania*

Abstract

Summary Black rhinoceroses on the Serengeti Plains were surveyed from February 1974 through January 1978. Sex and age composition of the sixty‐seven individuals identified was 30% adult males, 36% adult females and 34% immatures and calves. Social groupings were described for 140 sightings (237 rhinos), of which 38% were lone males. The sex ratio was 1:1 for all age classes combined. Of the adult females, 79% had calves. Two observed calving intervals were approximately 3‐3 years. The ratio of adult females to young is not significantly different from ratios reported elsewhere in East Africa. Rhinos did not use the short grasslands of the Serengeti Plains. In the medium grasslands they used mainly the drainage lines where there was food and water, but only minimal cover. Most rhinos on the plains were found along the woodland edge. Near the Seronera River, on the edge of the plains, there was a density of one rhino per 19 km2. Home ranges varied from 43 to 133 km2, with much overlapping. Some male, female, and male‐female dyads shared the same home ranges. An estimated 700 black rhinos live within the 12 920 km2 Serengeti National Park. Management for black rhinos in the park requires primarily that woodlands and abundant watering places be maintained and that poaching be minimized. Résumé Les rhinocéros noirs des plaines du Serengeti furent surveillés de février 1974 jusque janvier 1978. La distribution par sexe et par âge des soixante‐sept individus identifiés fut de 30% de mâles, 36%, de femelles adultes et 34% d'immatnres et de jeunes. Les groupements sociaux furent décrits à partir de 140 observations (237 rhinos), dont 38%étaient des mâles solitaires. Toutes classes d'âge combinées, le sex‐ratio était de 1/1. 79% des femelles adultes étaient suitées. Deux observations donnent un intervalle de 3,3 ans entre deux naissances. La proportion femelles adultes/jeunes n'est pas significativement différente de celles décrites ailleurs en Afrique de 1'Est. Les rhinos n'utilisent pas les pâturages ras des plaines du Serengeti. Dans les páTturages moyens, ils fréquentent surtout les sillons d'écoulement où ils trouvent nourriture et eau mais peu d'abri. La plupart des rhinos des plaines se trouvent en lisière forestiere. Prks de la rivière Seronera, en bordure des plaines, il y a une densité de I rhino par 19 km2. Les domaines vitaux varient de 43 à 133 km2 avec beaucoup de

Habitat use and spatial organisation of relocated black rhinos in Namibia

“…Owing to varying habitat quality, the literature reports of black rhino home range size (based on the MCP method) varies considerably: Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: 0.5-0.75 km 2 (Hitchins 1969), Ndumu, South Africa: 4.3-14.3 km 2 (Conway and Goodman 1989), Masai Mara, Kenya: 5.6-22.7 km 2 (Mukinya 1973), Laikipa, Kenya: 2.3-14.4 km 2 (Tatman et al 2000), Ngorongoro crater, Tanzania: 2.6-58 km 2 (Goddard 1967), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania: 43-133 km 2 (Frame 1980), Damaraland, Namibia: )500 km 2 (Loutit 1984). Lent and Fike (2003) studied ranging behaviour of an expanding black rhino population in Great Fish River Reserve in South Africa.…”

Rhinoceros behaviour: implications for captive management and conservation

“…Core areas of some 7 home ranges may be exclusive and thus represent territories in some species or populations (e.g. Black rhinoceros, Klingel & Klingel, 1966;Frame, 1980;White rhinoceros, Owen-Smith, 1971;van Gyseghem, 1984;Sumatran rhinoceros, Van Strien, 1986). However, in others, adult 7 home ranges may overlap but 77 defend oestrous 88 from the close approach of other 77 (e.g.…”

“…When this occurs, the previous owner may stay in his former territory, as long as he remains submissive and refrains from scent marking (Owen-Smith, 1971. Black rhinoceros show considerable variation in mating system, depending on their ecological circumstances: while their behaviour is similar to that of White rhinoceros in wetter habitats, they are apparently not territorial in arid habitats (Klingel & Klingel, 1966;Schenkel & Schenkel-Hullinger, 1969a;Mukinya, 1977;Frame, 1980;Laurie, 1982;Kiwia, 1989).…”

“…However, after this time, they rarely wander more than a few meters away from their mothers (Laurie, 1982). Black rhinoceros newborns may remain hidden for the first week after birth but once their legs have strengthened, typically remain in close vicinity of their mothers (Goodard, 1967;Schenkel & Schenkel-Hullinger, 1969a;Mukinya, 1977;Frame, 1980;Kiwai, 1989). When separated temporarily, mother-infant pairs maintain contact through vocalizations, the mothers calling with pants and the infants responding with high-pitched squeals.…”

Black Rhino Disaster in Tanzania

“…11 Mainly based on individual recognition of rhinos in the grass plains, Frame estimated about 700 rhinos in the Park. 7 His data, however, go back to 1974, before the poaching started to increase, and he ignores the situation in the north and west of the park, where poaching pressure was heaviest. His estimate must, therefore, be considered too high.…”