Saturday 9 February 2013

Six white rhino to be translocated to Botswana's Okavango Delta


February 2013. In the first ever private game reserve donation of rhino, luxury travel company &Beyond has earmarked six white rhino to be translocated from Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa to Botswana's Okavango Delta. Facilitated in partnership with Rhino Force, this conservation coup has been generously funded by lead sponsor, Motorite Administrators.

Rhino poaching surge
"South Africa lost well over 600 rhino to illegal poaching last year alone and Botswana currently has an excellent security system to protect the species. Translocations are fundamental to secure the ongoing survival of rhino for future generations," says Les Carlisle, &Beyond Conservation Manager.

The Okavango Delta has proven to be a successful rhino relocation habitat and Botswana has a strong security and monitoring framework in place whereby the military helps to protect the species. "It's the ideal opportunity for us to move our eggs out of one basket," explains Carlisle. "The project has the full support of the Botswana Rhino Management Committee and we are thrilled to be driving such a vital initiative for rhino conservation in partnership with Motorite."

As one of southern Africa's largest independent motor-related insurance administrators, Motorite supports this translocation to ensure the ongoing conservation of South Africa and Botswana's natural heritage.

After years of negotiation and planning, the translocation process will begin this month. Game scouts from Botswana will undergo intensive tracking and monitoring training at &Beyond Phinda, as they learn about white rhino behaviour in the Delta. Capture and release bomas have been built in South Africa and Botswana respectively, permits obtained and various conservation initiatives set in place to ensure that the six carefully selected rhino arrive at their destination safely.

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