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afrol.com, 3 November - On Sunday 29 Oct 2000 a young black rhino bull and cow were successfully translocated from the Kruger National Park, South Africa by means of a Sky Relief cargo plane, to the Liwonde National Park in Malawi. The young bull named Chimpange (meaning pioneer in Malawian) is approx seven years old and the cow, Chimwemwe (meaning Gift) is eight. The latter is four months pregnant and is anticipated to calf, eleven months from now. The combined monetary value of these two rhinoceros is R 600 000. A veterinarian team from South African National Parks will be monitoring the pair in the holding boma for approximately one week - as they adapt to the climate and the vegetation of their new home. Should conditions be conducive, the veterinary team anticipate releasing the pair into an exclusive sanctuary in the park, in one week. Hereafter progress will be monitored by park management and the J&B Circle of Freinds via radio tracking equipment. The J&B Circle of Friends are a noble group of Malawian business men who have dedicated their time and fund generating efforts to the preservation these endangered species and their participation has been instrumental is the reintroduction of Black Rhino at Liwonde National Park.
The objective of this joint relocation project between the South African National Parks (SANP) and the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) is to establish satellite populations of this endangered species in Southern Africa and to facilitate the development of the eco tourism industry in Southern African Developing Countries. The handover ceremony In addition to the animals being donated by SANP & NWPTB funding for the sanctuary, the relocations to date was provided by the J&B Circle of Friends, Panthera Productions, the Malawi-SA Wildlife Project & B P South Africa. Sky Relief provided the air transportation at a discounted rate. Unique African documentary in the make The Malawi-South Africa Wildlife Project The habitat was availed in the Liwonde National Park in the Shire Valley of Malawi however as the park was not fenced at that time it was decided to fence a small (1500 ha) sanctuary area within the park. This sanctuary is protected by a team of Malawian game scouts who were sent to the Kruger National Park for security training. Since 1993 four rhinoceros have been relocated to Liwonde N.P. with success as the latter adapted well and they produced two calves since their introduction. The Liwonde project has demonstrated the value of the sanctuary concept for conserving endangered species within their natural habitat, but under controlled and secure conditions.
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