GALLERY: 6 rhino moved as crippling drought worsens

THE ongoing and severe drought in Northern KZN has prompted conservation authorities to relocate six white rhino, four female adults and two calves, nearly 120km.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park announced in a statement yesterday that the rhino were moved from its Mkuze section to the Western Shores of Lake St Lucia.

While the adult rhino were sedated, conservation officials took the opportunity to dehorn them, as part of iSimangaliso’s anti poaching campaign as they believe all rhino on the Western Shores were more vulnerable to poachers.

‘While the current white rhino population in the Mkuze section of iSimangaliso is below the ecological carrying capacity and artificial water points are flowing well, the severity of the current drought coupled with…high temperatures, has resulted in food shortages and severe nutritional stress for some of the animals. It was determined that the rhino in poor condition should be relocated as an emergency measure,’ said iSimangaliso CEO Andrew Zaloumis.

Park authorities together with capture teams from Ezemvelo Wildlife agreed to move the rhino before their diminishing diet made them too weak for relocation.

At least five white rhino have perished due to the drought in Mkuze, some getting stuck in the mud at Nsumo Pan and being too weak to get out by themselves or be rescued.