Resolving an issue arising from translocation strategy for saving the black rhino

In response to the In response to alarming a decline in black rhino decline in black rhino populations conservationists developed a plan to grow the South African population to 2000 in the shortest time possible. This was to be achieved by possible. This was to be achieved by removing animals from the high-density population in the Umfolozii-Hluhluwe Game Reserve. These animals would be translocated to new reserves with more abundant resources. This reduction in intra-specific competition would result in faster growth rates. The magnitude of proposed removals, however, did not take into consideration some important perspectives of the managers of the source population. In this paper we attempt to provide insight into the trade-offs between the needs and perspective of source managers and those of the propoents of maximun translocation.