GTZ Wildlife Programme in Tanzania, Selous<br> Rhino Project


	Selous Black Rhinoceros Protection Project

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The Project Objective

Diceros Bicornis minor (Black Rhino) in Selous Game Reserve (SGR) and surrounding areas are protected and managed in one or two Intensive Protection Zones (IPZ)

Results

Infrastructure and qualified personnel for the northern IPZ in place and operative
Ongoing protection and management of rhinos and their ecosystem in northern and western Sector secured
Rhino populations in SGR and surrounding areas investigated, numbers, sex and age distribution and other relevant biological data available for selected populations
Possible locations for further IPZ's defined according to rhino population characteristics (1 to 2 IPZ's assumed)
Overall management strategy and management plans for all IPZ's developed and agreed with other project(s)

Background

The Selous Rhino Trust is presently dealing with rhino protection in the Selous in cooperation with the Selous Administration.
The project is based on a private initiative originally

founded to protect a known small rhino population in the northern sector of the reserve. The Trust has run a three years predecessor project. It had employed an expatriate rhino officer from Oct. 1998 onwards and finances activities including the deployment of Selous Game Scouts in the rhino area.
In 1999 the European Union agreed to fund the project. GTZ has been asked to subcontract the Trust and to supervise the activities.

The approach follows the Tanzania Rhino Policy and Management Plan, which proposes the in situ-protection of existing populations of rhinos by establishing Intensive Protection Zones.
The immediate emphasis of the project is on stabilizing the existing satellite black rhino populations currently known in the SGR and surrounding region. The previous and current monitoring and fieldwork indicates scattered groups of animals over very large geographical areas. Due to inaccessibility of many areas (due to seasonal flooding) and rough terrain, also the lack of suitable all-terrain vehicles and other transport modes, many potential black rhino habitat areas have not yet been surveyed. The rhino specialist contracted by the NGO guides the surveying and researching of these other likely rhino areas in and around the reserve.

Activities

building of outposts and other structures
carry out training
procurement of equipment (3 vehicles, 2 boats, office equipment, communication equipment)
develop and implement patrol scheme
describe the rhino populations in the area
implement community outreach programmes focusing on micro-enterprise establishment and sustainable development.
survey possible rhino areas
collect relevant data on vegetation, rhinos and other fauna
liaise with relevant scientific bodies
delineate possible boundaries for the IPZ's
liaise with the National Rhino Coordinator and the Selous authorities on the IPZ's
conduct workshop on overall management strategies
work out management plans

A monitoring approach is being developed which allows for the systematic evaluation of population trends and the effectiveness of anti-poaching and rhino management strategies. Data will be collected using a variety of methods including a combination of infra-red and conventional ID photography, DNA testing of faecal samples, spoor measurement and direct observation.
Ground surveys: extended patrols surveying transects of the northern Selous on foot are carried out. Information collected is quantified into standardised units such as patrol hours and kilometres patrolled to establish the rhino sign density per unit effort.
Aerial surveys are carried out in form of systematic reconnaissance flights. They are conducted to survey preferred rhino habitats and to do anti-poaching surveillance.