Zambia Moves Male Rhino from Mosi-Oa-Tunya to End Fights

Zambia has relocated a male white rhino from Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park in Livingstone, to a secure temporary holding facility at a private wildlife estate, following persistent territorial conflicts between the aggressive mammals. The Assistant Director for Research, Planning and Veterinary Services, at the Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Innocent Ngombwa explained that the decision was made after the park recorded repeated aggressive encounters between two adult male rhinos, which threatened both animal safety and breeding success. Dr Ngombwa pointed out that Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park hosts ten white rhinos. There have been serious and prolonged clashes between rival bulls in Mosi-Oa-Tunya. These battles between Rhinos have reportedly disrupted the park’s breeding program and posed a high risk of serious or fatal injuries. The conservator added that white rhinos operate under a defined social structure in which one dominant male can successfully mate with up to 15 females. However, the presence of two competing bulls led to frequent and violent fights, some involving sharp horns that increased the danger to the animals. As an added precaution, therefore, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) conducted a controlled dehorning exercise on the relocated rhino. Dehorning, according to wildlife experts, is an accepted conservation practice that does not harm the animal, as the horn naturally regrows within three to four years. The relocation is part of DNPW’s broader efforts to protect wildlife and ensure sustainable growth of Zambia’s rhino population. The Tanzania Times was told. Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park currently hosts a founder population of ten White Rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum), comprising two adult males and eight females. In recent months, the park has experienced increased intra-territorial conflicts between the two mature bulls as they compete for dominance. These conflicts have resulted in one of the males being repeatedly displaced and, on several occasions, forced to move outside the park boundaries. The social structure of the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) requires an optimal bull-to-cow ratio of approximately one adult bull to fourteen cows. However, the current population structure in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is imbalanced, with two adult bulls and only eight females. For a herd of this size, best management practice dictates the presence of only one breeding bull. The existing imbalance has therefore contributed to heightened aggression and dominance-related confrontations. Following the repeated escape of the displaced male rhino from the park, the Ministry of Tourism through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) has resolved to translocate the affected bull to a secure, rhino-proof holding facility. This intervention is intended to retain a single breeding bull within the park, thereby reducing the risk of further violent encounters that could result in serious or fatal injuries. Failure to address such conflicts poses a risk not only to the welfare of the animals but also to the breeding success and long-term population growth of the species within the park. Moreover, the movement of a large and potentially dangerous animal beyond park boundaries presents a safety concern for communities living adjacent to the protected area. The Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife said it remains fully committed to safeguarding both wildlife and the surrounding communities through proactive and responsible management of dangerous game. In this regard, the translocation of the rhino bull is deemed necessary for the safety of the animal itself as well as that of the public. The rhino will be temporarily housed at a private wildlife estate under strict security provided by armed DNPW officers, pending identification of a suitable final destination. As part of enhanced security and monitoring measures, the animal will be dehorned at capture and will be fitted with a radio collar which is currently being sourced to facilitate effective tracking, and rapid response should it attempt to break its new enclosure.