African Wildlife Foundation’s Fall 2009 newsletter includes a great article about Zambia’s single surviving white rhino, Fwanya, who now has company because four additional rhinos from South Africa were translocated to Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park. Jones Masonde provides some interesting information including how the patrolmen try and keep the rhinos safe from poachers.
[quote]If the rhinos can roam free in the park, how does the team know where they are? How do the patrolmen keep them safe? All five rhinos have been fitted with radio transmitters—a small chip inserted into the horn—which send signals as the animals move about. Using a handheld telemetry signal receiving device, the team can pick up and follow the movements of the rhino. Each rhino typically has two wildlife police officers tracking it at all times. The officers are armed and very well trained. They need to be on alert and able to act quickly. Poachers who hunt rhinos for their horn are extremely ruthless and have no regard for either humans or rhinos.[/quote]
Reference Links
Alternate download for African Wildlife Foundation Fall 2009 Newsletter
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