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Rhino Relocation Initiative

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The Grumeti Community and Wildlife Conservation Fund, under the leadership of conservationist Brian Harris, is involved in an ambitious rhino relocation initiative.

The black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) sub-species that live in the area were in danger of becoming extinct through poaching and various other factors. In the 1960s, there were 1 200 of these mammals in the Serengeti ecosystem, but poaching reduced this number to 42.

Today, however, the number has increased to 84. Singita Grumeti Reserves has managed to acquire 34 rhinos from South Africa and will, in a joint effort with TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks) and The Frankfurt Zoological Society, be translocating them to the Serengeti in the next few years. This is the biggest single relocation of black rhino in history. This exciting initiative could not have been carried out if it were not for Singita Grumeti Reserves, which provided all the finance to acquire, transport and maintain a safe environment for the rhinos.

In order to ensure the success of the rhino relocation project, a number of important milestones had to be reached in the early stages. The first requirement was to tackle the poaching scourge, addressed over the past five years by the formation of a formidable anti-poaching unit, set up by the Grumeti Fund. The Grumeti Fund also focused on job creation for local community members at our lodges and the need to hunt for a living has been replaced by more sustainable alternatives.

The next challenge was to garner support from the regional and national government, made possible once the politicians understood the greater vision for the Singita Grumeti Reserves region.

The third major task was to set up an extensive wildlife monitoring programme and the dedicated team at Singita Grumeti Reserves has been instrumental in setting up the necessary measures. Success in this area is evident in the census figures that reveal great increases in the number of wildlife species in the area. For example, in 2003 there were 605 buffalo in the area, which escalated to 3 124 in 2007; the Thomson’s gazelle population has mushroomed from 3 480 to 12 162; and eland have increased in number from 254 to 1 211 for the same period.

With all three major objectives having been achieved over the past three years, Singita Grumeti Reserves is now in a position to fulfil the dream of the proposed rhino relocation – a significant programme, as the livelihood of the local communities is closely linked to the success of conservation in the region.