International Rhino Foundation Newsletter 

In October, IRF Board member Rick Barongi (Director of the Houston Zoo) and I traveled to Zimbabwe to visit the conservancies in the Lowveld Rhino Trust. What a trip! Highlights involved radio-tracking rhinos from a two-seater Husky aircraft in Bubye River and Save Valley Conservancies. We saw at least 16 rhinos from the air, giving me great hope that all our efforts to move animals into ‘safer’ conservancy areas were reasonably successful. A big thank you to all our donors who contributed to this effort!

We also had the opportunity to visit several orphaned rhino calves being hand-reared at Blondie and Katrina Leatham’s farm. Right now, three calves (Blondie, a male, and females Sassy and Millie, all orphaned at approximately 4 months of age) are living together in one pen with a large extension into the farmland. A fourth rhino, 'Oliver' is awaiting introduction to 'the gang'. All four calves have survived various tragedies. Blondie’s mother was shot by poachers and Sassy was found 2 days after poachers had killed her mother for her horn. Millie’s mother was poisoned in Save Valley but she survived (the person who poisoned the waterhole was given 9 years in prison and the person who sold the poison was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment – a first for Zimbabwe’s justice system).  We owe the Leathams a huge debt of gratitude for giving these young animals a fighting chance to survive.

Blondie and Katrina have developed a terrific system for helping young orphaned rhinos adjust to bottle feeding. Blondie stacks several large tractor tires (much like they do in rodeos) in the center of a well-fenced pen at their farm and climbs inside. New orphans understandably tend to be very reactive to their new environment (see the 7 May 2009 IRF blog). In rhino terms, this means repeatedly charging the tires. Each time, Blondie calmly offers a bottle through the gap in the tires.  Eventually the young animal has an ‘ah-ha’ moment, when she understands that behind the tires there is a source of milk, rather than a threat. Gradually, the tires are eliminated and the baby rhino readily takes a bottle from human caregivers. Check out this photo of Oliver, full of rhino gusto, as he approaches the edge of the enclosure for his bottle.

 

At Bubye River, we were lucky to see two young rhinos, Lisa Marie and Carla, who had been successfully hand-reared and released.  Carla was found trying to suckle from the bloated carcass of her mother who had been killed by poachers in September 2007. Carla had also been shot high through the shoulders and large gashes on her face suggest that the poachers also attempted to cut off her horns. Carla was taken to Buffalo Range where her wounds were treated and she was bottle fed.  Lisa Marie was found with a deep, severe snare injury to her right hind leg. She was captured and moved to Buffalo Range where she was placed in a pen next door to Carla.  Once their wounds healed and they no longer needed daily treatment, the two were put together for company. Carla and Lisa Marie bonded quickly, rarely moving away more than a body length away from each other!
 
By May 2008, needing more space, the two calves were moved to Bubye Valley Conservancy. For the next year, they continued to receive two bottles of milk a day and were allowed to browse in a large paddock. Once the girls reached just over 2 years of age, they were weaned and released into the conservancy. Both calves, unfortunately, are highly imprinted on humans and went looking for people. The most human activity they could find was on the main road next to the conservancy so Carla and Lisa Marie spent most of their time against the fence watching the people and cars pass. Given the current high rate of rhino poaching in Zimbabwe, it was feared they would be shot, so they were moved about 40km deeper into the conservancy. This photo shows ‘the girls’, who have put on weight now that the rains have started and there is new growth for them to feed on.

 

One of the main reasons for our visit was to meet with Zimbabwe government officials, along with IUCN, TRAFFIC and Embassy representatives in Harare to discuss escalating rhino poaching and what measures might be put into place to deal with the highly organized syndicates responsible for more than 70 rhino deaths so far this year. While no concrete agreements were reached, some progress was made in affirming the severity of the problem and its long-term implications. Sanctions against Zimbabwe will be discussed at the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species in Qatar this coming March, which IRF will attend.

In Harare, we were delighted to witness Raoul du Toit (IRF’s African Rhino Program Coordinator and Director of the Lowveld Rhino Trust) receive the Sir Peter Scott Award, the ‘senior’ award of the IUCN Species Survival Commission from Dr. Holly Dublin. The award is given to those who have made particularly significant and noteworthy contributions to the conservation of wild fauna and flora, especially threatened species. Congratulations, Raoul!

 

 

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!  Rhino Rendezvous – Bid Now for a Chance to Rise and Shine with the Rhinos!

This year we again are auctioning off an amazing four-day safari that would be the perfect gift for the conservationist or animal lover who really has everything. This unique package, Rhino Rendezvous, will give your group a rare opportunity to spend 4 days at IRF’s headquarters at White Oak Conservation Center, just north of Jacksonville, Florida. This unique and exclusive 7,400 acre reserve is closed to the public and is home to hundreds of rare, exotic and threatened wildlife. It’s also the only place in the world where four of the five species of rhino can be seen – and the word on the inside is that at least one new baby rhino will be born there in the next few months! Just go to www.rhinosirf.cmarket.com by December 15th and place your bid on this remarkable and memorable expedition, valued at $25,000.

Adopt-a--Rhino
A truly unique gift for an animal lover - help to protect the critically endangered Sumatran rhino from extinction by “adopting” a rhino at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary. The Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, a 250-acre complex located within Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia, is currently home to five rhinos that are part of an intensively managed research and breeding program aimed at increasing the Sumatran rhino population in the wild. In honor of each adoption, your gift recipient will receive an adoption certificate and a photo and bio of his or her rhino, as well as regular updates on the rhino and IRF’s work to protect and conserve rhinos worldwide. (Order by December 20th to ensure delivery by Christmas!)

 

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Remember – all donations to IRF are tax deductible!

In these difficult economic times, we are particularly grateful for your support of the International Rhino Foundation. We know that you have a choice in your charitable giving, and appreciate that you have chosen to help us make a lasting difference for rhinos, and the species and people who share their habitats. IRF remains committed to focusing our programs in areas where rhinos are in the most need of attention and where conservation dollars will have the most significant impact. We will continue to work towards lasting solutions by collaborating with a multitude of stakeholders – local people, communities, government agencies, zoos, conservation organizations, scientists, and others – working together to reach our common goals.

Thank you for being part of the IRF family. We are deeply grateful for your interest in our work and programs.  Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like additional information or have questions about our work.

Best regards,