And it wasn't from hunting....

Eight rare rhinos die in botched conservation effort

The Kenyan Ministry of Tourism announced Thursday that eight black rhinoceroses had died following a botched attempt to start a new population of the critically endangered species.

The eight animals likely died of salt poisoning, a release says. The rhinos were unaccustomed to the level of salt in water in their new environment and could not adapt.

In salt poisoning, high salt levels in the water lead animals to become dehydrated. They then began to drink more salty water – a cycle that can eventually kill them.

"This is a major conservation tragedy, not just for Kenya but for all rhinos. It’s surprising because Kenya (KWS) has conducted many successful large scale translocations of rhinos before," Paula Kahumbu, CEO of Wildlife Direct, a conservation group with a focus on Africa's critically endangered species, wrote on Facebook.

"I dread to think of the suffering that these poor animals endured before they died. We need to know what went wrong so that it never happens again."

Bugger. That is a big loss. Very dry that way in the dry season.

Tanz located some black rhinos south of there some years ago. Between the Umba River and the border, west of Mwakajembe.

Anyone wants to bet this was the idea of some newly appointed so called university qualified scientist??

I think a university-qualified scientist would have probably gotten it right; this is probably the result of some ARA group thinking it would be a boost for donations. Kenya, sadly, is infested with them and they have a lot of control.

That's very sad news. KWS know better than that so I am suspicious as to what has gone on here. We've had a few "moments" with black rhino over the years but they are easy to admire and my personal favourite of the big 5.

I don’t seem to hear any outcry from the zombies!

quote:

Originally posted by ijl:
I think a university-qualified scientist would have probably gotten it right; this is probably the result of some ARA group thinking it would be a boost for donations. Kenya, sadly, is infested with them and they have a lot of control.

Yep