Another rhino reintroduction in Chad looks likely
Following the deaths of four reintroduced black rhinos in Chad’s Zakouma National Park last October, the park manager, Leon Lamprecht, expects a second attempt to re-established them in November 2020.
Zakouma’s rhinos were lost in 1972 as the park was ravaged by poaching. Since taking charge of its management in 2010 the non-profit conservation organisation, African Parks, has turned around Zakouma’s fortunes through effective anti-poaching measures.
It was felt secure enough by May 2018 to reintroduce six black rhinos sent here from Marakele National Park in South Africa. Yet despite seeming in healthy condition throughout Zakouma’s wet season, four of them, including both bulls, died within a two-week period.
Lamprecht says post-mortems have shown a sudden loss of condition led to a reduction of fat around their organs: “We’re still not sure of the primary cause of this but whatever it was triggered by it was secondary complications such as West Nile Virus that proved fatal. They were ultimately maladapted, as coming from Southern Africa everything was foreign to them.”
Two female rhinos remained alive in what Lamprecht calls “survival of the fittest”. He says they will be monitored over the next wet and dry season cycles. “If they survive well we will bring in further rhinos. We’re confident these two will be the founders of a healthy Central African rhino population.” Mark Stratton