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Two black rhino calves born in Ol Pejeta, Kenya

08/01/2008

The largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, is the happy recipient of two new additions. In December, rangers spotted two newborn black rhino calves at the 90,000 acre Conservancy at the base of Mt. Kenya.

FFI helped to establish Ol Pejeta Conservancy through a major land purchase in 2004 and is still actively involved in its management. The two new arrivals bring the total number of black rhinos on Ol Pejeta to 77 - 38 males, 32 females and 7 unsexed calves.

The first calf was found by Ol Pejeta’s rhino patrolmen on Kenya’s Jamhuri (Independence) Day, 12th December. The calf has been appropriately named Jamhuri and was born to Njoki, one of the rhinos translocated in February 2007 from Solio Ranch to Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The second, as yet unnamed, calf was spotted only 3 days after Jamhuri’s appearance.

Black rhinos give birth in dense bush and keep their calves hidden for safety. They are highly protective mothers, making it impossible for Ol Pejeta’s rhino patrol teams to get close enough to identify the sex of a calf.

Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, the black rhino Diceros bicornis has suffered the most significant decline of all the rhino species. Less than 4,000 remain in the wild, compared to 100,000 in 1900, due to devastating poaching rates. FFI is working to save the species by supporting Ol Pejeta Conservancy in its efforts, in particular by facilitating the translocation of rhinos from other populations

For further information on Ol Pejeta Conservancy, visit their website. Learn about more our work with the Conservancy.

FFI Communications contact:

Rebecca Foges
Tel: +44 (0)1223 579491
rebecca.foges@fauna-flora.org