Fiona Macleod
South African National Parks (SANParks) this week guaranteed that mothers and calves among 21 white rhinos it is selling from the Kruger National Park will not be separated.
The organisation says it will stipulate that buyers of the rhinos do not separate mothers and calves until the youngsters are fully weaned and independent. This normally takes at least 20 months.
It has also stipulated that the animals are sold for breeding purposes, and will not be hunted for at least a year after purchase.
SANParks was reacting to concerns reported in the Mail & Guardian two weeks ago that eight cows and their calves are due to be sold straight out of the bush. Conservationists warned that separating them is ethically unacceptable and potentially fatal to the calves.
A new watchdog body called the Ethical Conservation Network called on SANParks to cancel the sale, citing past occasions when mothers and calves were separated, as well as instances when animals have been shot soon after arriving at their new homes.
“In the view of SANParks, this type of game sale holds considerable value for conservation in general,” says Salifou Siddo, SANParks director of communications. “Land made available to wildlife by the private sector is of great value in building up the numbers of rare and valuable game species.
“There are always individuals who may act unethically and contrary to the interests of good conservation, but this is no reason to cast aspersions on the good provided by the majority.”
Siddo says rhino experts within SANParks will carry on working with members of the organisation’s Animal Use and Care Committee to decide on the minimum ages at which calves may be captured in future. The advisory committee, which includes independent veterinarians and welfare experts, was set up 18 months ago.
“SANParks will communicate concerns relating to the separation of cows and calves to the provincial and national authorities responsible for issuing Cites [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species] and other permits regulating the management of rhinos,” Siddo adds.