We all enjoy a good comeback story. Numerous Hollywood films and pieces of literature around the world are centered on the theme of fairy tale finishes; high school dropouts becoming millionaires and sports teams turning their fate around in the dying seconds of the game. A similar tale has occurred with the most unsuspecting species in South Africa; the rhino.
Although rhino populations across Africa are currently under threat, I’d like to take you back over a hundred years on a walk through the turbulent history of this animal and to possibly one of the greatest conservation success stories that took place right on our doorstep.
![](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/11002651/DSC_6127-1398x933.jpg)
A White rhino chases off a Majingilane Male lion and Mhangeni cub. Rhinos do not have any natural predators other than humans and therefore any major rise or fall in their numbers can usually be attributed to man’s involvement.
Few, if any, animals hunt or are a threat to rhinos other than humans, and so a major determinant in the population of these animals has been down to human activity and involvement in their areas of occurence. They are naturally slow-moving animals with poor eyesight and generally not too difficult to approach on foot. This made them easy targets for the many explorers and big game hunters that roamed through Southern Africa and indeed across the greater continent from the mid 19th century. Prior to this, both Black (Hooked-Lipped) and White (Square-Lipped) rhino were plentiful throughout the Sabi Game Reserve and north of it, into what would later become the Kruger National Park.
No formal census was conducted during these times but accounts from early explorers and hunters all lead us to believe that the populations were strong. William Cornwallis Harris’ early journals state that rhinos were almost pests, so numerous were they.
However, by 1896, a mere 51 years after the first European hunting settlement was established in the Lowveld, no trace of any white rhinos could be found. A handful of Black rhino managed to remain until 1936 when district ranger Harry Kirkman reported what would be the last sign of them, just south-east of Skukuza, the headquarters of the Kruger National Park. In 1940, having found no sign of either species throughout the park, both the Black and White rhino were declared regionally extinct in the greater Kruger National Park due to unethical and uncontrolled hunting practices as well as habitat destruction.
![Rhino Bull](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/26134128/Rhino-Bull-1598x988.jpg)
We are fortunate to have sightings of White rhino at Londolozi on what I would think to be a daily basis. But this would not have been the case a few decades ago.
Not all was lost though. At the same time, early stringent protection of the same species in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve on the eastern coast of South Africa had allowed the rhino population to flourish there to such a point that they were exceeding the amount that the land could provide for. This gave authorities and conservationists the opportunity to initiate one of the largest translocation undertakings of the century.
Dubbed ‘Operation Rhino’, more than 4000 White rhinos were relocated out of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi to various areas of Southern Africa where they had once roamed abundantly. As you can imagine, this was no easy feat; finding, darting and transporting the world’s second largest land animal over hundreds of kilometers. Beginning in 1961 with 4 breeding-aged individuals and continuing for the next 12 years, a total of 345 White rhino were reintroduced into the Greater Kruger National Park. Gradually they began to settle into the areas in which they had once flourished.
Today the population is approaching a healthy 5000 (approximately a quarter of the global population) in the Greater Kruger National Park, making it the largest and densest population of White Rhino in the world. Black rhino have followed a similar path albeit on a smaller scale due to their more specific habitat requirements and overall smaller population globally than that of the white Rhino. A total of 90 individuals were reintroduced – also from the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve – between 1971 and 1990 and today have risen to approximately 400 individuals throughout the Greater Kruger National Park.
![Black Rhino by Londolozi Guest, Dan](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/22205401/Black-Rhino-Londolozi-Game-Reserve-David-Dampier2.jpg)
Black rhino aren’t seen a great deal at Londolozi but when they are, its always a special sighting. Photograph by Londolozi Guest, Dan Chaknova.
A visit to Londolozi today is almost certainly added to by a sighting of White rhino, possibly even with a small calf if you’re lucky, which in my opinion is one of the most encouraging sightings, given the plight of the species in recent years. Black rhino on the other hand are seldom encountered at Londolozi and only two have been seen this year, both deep in the southern part of the reserve where the habitat is somewhat more suitable for them. However, the point is that they are here and have the potential to grow in numbers.
![](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/11134050/rhino.jpg)
Rhinos have endured an incredible journey in the Kruger Park over the past century having initially flourished, then been reduced to regional extinction, resurrected themselves with the help of dedicated conservationists and now being subjected to over a decade long poaching onslaught. Amidst the chaos, to see a young rhino like the one above is always comforting.
Success stories like ‘Operation Rhino’ can quickly remind us of the power we hold to mend our environment and turn the tables on the destruction we can so easily bring about.
![Icp01474 11](https://blog.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ICP01474-11-720x369.jpg)
Ian Player (left), who incidentally is the brother of golfing legend Gary Player, and long time friend, guide and mentor Magqubu Ntombela (right) were hugely influential in initiating ‘Operation Rhino’. Sadly both men have since passed away but their, and the rest of their team’s efforts and achievements are still reaped today. Photograph sourced from http://ianplayer.com/multimedia/.
On your next visit to Londolozi, when you hopefully find yourself in the presence of one or more of these beautiful creatures spare a thought for the efforts of those conservationists that come before us and monumental task that they took upon themselves, largely not for their own benefit but for the benefit of the environment.
This is a lovely blog Chris. Rhino and the fight against poaching lie very close to my heart. We’ve got to make people aware of the plight our rhino’s are in. We do not wabt a situation again where there are no rhino left in the greater Kruger. Next time there might not be any left in Hluluwe-Mfolozi to buildt the population up in Kruger. We’ve all got to do our bit to help.
Thanks Marinda. I agree, we must create awareness through education about the value of wildlife and wilderness areas like Greater Kruger National Park so as to protect animals like the rhino.
I am acutely aware of the plight of rhino, so I filled with tears of joy when we came across rhino several times during our stay at Londolozi last year. Absolutely magical.
I can relate to that feeling Dawn! Hopefully you’ll be back soon to see more.
Nice article, Chris. Thanks.
Thanks Dave!
Inspirational, hopefully the success continues with everyone’s hard work! The poaching is one of the darkest testaments of the human race, unfathomable to so many of us!
I agree Laura. Thanks to the efforts of those many involved, we are lucky to have a strong, protected population of rhino at Londolozi and throughout the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
Congrats on being a part OPERATION RHINO we were blessed to see these magnificent beasts on our visit in October
I’m glad you got to experience that Joan! Always amazing seeing them.
What a wonderful history story. The first year we came to Londolozi we saw a mother rhino with young baby who was adorable. He was so happy, jumping and pogo sticking around his mother as she moved thru the bush. Well done to all who are working so hard to help preserve these animals and all the others. Victoria
That sounds like an incredible sighting Victoria! The young rhinos are often very playful which provides great entertainment for us.
Our rhino sightings have been very fulfilling, particularly one where we saw a very young calf. It actually was very playful with its mom.
Yes, the young calves can be very entertaining, Vin! Always a special sighting when you see one.
Beautifully written Chris. The plight of the rhino and other endangered species is something we as humans need to take seriously, and fortunately it seems the lower Southern African countries have banded together to establish fundraising groups. As a result of visiting game reserves since 1986 I’m quite invested into contributing to and supporting these various organizations. However, the problem is those who have never encountered animals in their natural habitat have no interest in saving an animal they’ve never witnessed, save maybe in a zoo. There’s a non-belief that any animal would become endangered or extinct as you could always find one in a zoo somewhere in the world. That’s reality. The answer to make more people aware of the plight of endangered species- I don’t know save for more documentaries and marketing. Fortunately the Sabi Sand Reserve has not lost any rhinos in the past few years so this is a positive step in their population growth.
Thanks Denise. And thank you for being a long standing supporter of these organizations. The plight of the rhinos, particularly in Sabi Sand Game Reserve has improved in recent years and we can only hope that the momentum spreads further across the continent with support of more people.
The first time I saw a Rhino in South Africa was about fifteen years ago I was sternly told off by the ranger (not at Londolozi) as I stood up in amazement. It was not far from Hluhuwe Umfolozi, whilst I suspect I knew far less about driving and animals than he did, I strongly suspect he did not know how lucky he was to see them on a daily basis.
That’s very true Ian, working in an environment that allows us to see these animals on a daily basis must not be taken for granted.
Very interesting blog…and great to hear such positive news. It surprises me that Hluhluwe-Umfolozi has 4000 excess White rhinos able to be relocated. Do you know what the total population there was at the time?
I haven’t been able to find a reliable source on what the rhino population was at the time but I have no doubt it was strong. A good habitat for both black and white rhino as well as early and effective protection allowed them to flourish there.
A great blog Chris. It is truly heartwarming to read about the increase in the populations of both white and black rhino. If only there was some way of educating the Asian men about the nonsense of medicine, etc. there would be no issues – hopefully. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks Leonie. You’re right, the key lies in education of the consumers.
What an inspiring post in this day of nothing but bad news around us. Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks Gloria. Yes, a lot of positivity can be drawn from stories like this.
Zululand Wilderness: Shadow and Soul by Ian Player is one of my all-time favourite books, as was his biography Into the River of Life. These two books had such a profound impact on my life unmatched by any other books that I can remember reading. I really wish that I had had the chance to meet Ian Player or Maqubu Ntombela, both of those men have inspired so much. However, I was able to go on a 5-day trail with the Wilderness Leadership School in 2015 to experience the incredible legacy he left behind and what he helped save.
I’m glad to hear that you have been inspired by these people Callum, as have I. I was lucky enough to have met Ian Player when I was very young and would be interested in reading those books you mentioned.
Wonderful and interesting story, Chris. Thank you so much. We were chased once in a Landrover for 2.2 kms by a family of White Rhinos once. On this particular drive we had seen a number of White Rhinos and therefore drove slowly past a Male, Female and biggish Youngster as we were looking for Warthogs. Goodness knows what sparked off the chase, but we soon became aware of the big Male looking like an approaching train engine, just behind came Mom and behind her the Youngster who came bouncing along for fun! We had a look at the Landrover’s speedometer and at one point they were gaining on us and the speedometer read 43 kms/hr. It was an eye opener for us and we were very relieved when all 3 Rhinos decided to stop. It was a hot day and they had enjoyed their fun while it lasted. Two of our friends with us were looking like wet rags by this time. They were genuine Townies and had never been in the Bush before. ….. It was their first ever game drive! To our surprise they came on further game drives after this and thoroughly enjoyed themselves! Very brave of them, we thought. Wendy M