The reserve ran a really successful rhino breeding programme in the first half of the century, which meant that by the early 1960s the white rhino population was much, much larger and the park was able to send many of its rhino to other reserves and zoos in Africa and around the world in the hope of ensuring the survival of the species. In the first few years of the program - named 'Operation Rhino' - over 600 rhino were re-located and it is seen as one of the most successful conservation programmes in history.
The fact that the reserve has been of such importance in the saving of the Southern White Rhino makes it a very special place to visit and makes having the opportunity to carry out conservation work here a huge privilege.
Sadly, just before I arrived at iMfolozi, the man that led the 'Operation Rhino' project died. Dr Ian Player was instrumental in the success of the project and in many other conservation projects, so it was very sad news. If you want to find out more about Dr Player, the program and the work still going on today to ensure the survival of all rhino, you can go to this site: http://www.savetherhino.org/latest_news/news/1166_rip_dr_ian_player
The other sad news I heard whilst here was about the Northern White Rhino. Unfortunately the conservation of the Northern White Rhino has not been as successful as that of the Southern and before I arrived at iMfolozi there were only six individuals in the world - all living in zoos. Whilst here, one of the six - a male living in San Diego zoo - died, leaving just five. The chances of those that are left breeding is highly unlikely, so it is really sad news. But it also highlights just how important the conservation and monitoring work that Wildlife Act and other organisations do is, in ensuring that endangered animals survive and thrive.
As with many of the Wildlife Act projects, the priority at iMfolozi is the monitoring of the reserve's Wild Dog population. The reserve is unusual in that it is home to a total of seven packs (5 mostly stay on the iMfolozi side and 2 on the Hluhluwe side) which makes monitoring them all regularly much harder. The work at iMfolozi also involves recording sightings of other priority and endangered species - including elephant, leopard, cheetah and black rhino - through monitoring sessions and camera traps.
Our monitor at iMfolozi is Megan and the other volunteers here are Alistair (South African), Toby (Danish/German) and Jacobien and Cid who are both Dutch. We stay in a lovely camp in the reserve, which has a big rock in the back garden from where there is the most incredible view of the river winding through the reserve. It is beautiful.
This is my last project with Wildlife Act and is an amazing one to end on. The reserve is beautiful and we have had some incredible sightings of lazy lions, elephants and rhinos having mud baths, spotted hyena (including one in the garden), leopards and of course the beautiful dogs. I've also had a scorpion in my room, which was very exciting indeed!
Whilst here, we got news about the two uMkhuze dogs I mentioned in my last post, who left the reserve to go and find themselves some females. After visiting a few reserves, they have been spotted on Zimanga and seem to have persuaded the four females there to leave the Zimanga males and join them instead. It isn't clear how this will work out - particularly for the two original Zimanga males - but at least they are safely on a reserve now and more easily monitored.
I can't believe how quickly the first 3 months of my year in Africa have passed. I have had some incredible experiences and met some lovely people (and animals!) and will be sad to end this chapter, but I am also really excited about where I'll go and what I'll do in the next 9 months!
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