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66-626: In the late 1980s the population of black rhinos, particularly in Zimbabwe, was dropping at an alarming rate. To help combat the decline, the International Black Rhino Foundation was founded in 1989. The IBRF worked with both in-situ conservation (protecting animals in their native habitat) and ex-situ conservation (protecting animals "off-site" such as in zoos or non-native nature reserves). The South-central Black Rhinoceros , which lives in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Tanzania, had

132-435: A biodiversity hotspot a region must meet two strict criteria: Biodiversity hotspots make up 1.4% of the earth's land area, yet they contain more than half of our planets species. A gene sanctuary is an area where plants are conserved. It includes both biosphere reserves as well as national parks. Biosphere reserves are developed to be both a place for biodiversity conservation as well as sustainable development. The concept

198-631: A captive breeding program as part of a larger population management strategy. In the early 1990s, managed propagation centers (known as "sanctuaries") were developed in native habitat in the range states, to which some captive rhinos were repatriated. The first center is the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS) in Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. The SRS encompasses 100 hectares (250 acres) for propagation, research, and education, and received its first rhino in 1998. Until recently,

264-592: A closely related species, the invasive organism can ecologically take over the role of the native species. Nuisance Removals involve the translocation of individuals deemed as nuisance after coming into conflict with humans in a particular area. As the human population continues to grow and development expands into previous wild areas, human-animal conflicts will continue to increase. These conflicts range from herbivores consuming plants in urban landscapes and agriculture, to carnivores hunting pets, livestock, or attacking humans. Previous methods of controlling such conflicts

330-743: A high-risk location to a new, safer area, in March 2014, IRF and partner Wilderness Safaris secured six black rhinos from South Africa's Kruger National Park for translocation to Botswana's Moremi Game Reserve. The group included one adult male, one pregnant adult female, two sub-adult males and two sub-adult females. An additional 14 black rhinos were captured in South Africa's North West Parks from in late May/early June and have subsequently been transported and released in Moremi. This second group included six males and eight females, from 1.5 to more than 10 years of age. With

396-548: A higher quality of life for animals who are moved there. These animals are placed in specialized habitats that allows for more species-specific behaviors to take place. Wildlife sanctuaries are often used for animals that have been in zoos, circuses, laboratories and more for a long time, and then live the rest of their lives with greater autonomy in these habitats. Several international organizations focus their conservation work on areas designated as biodiversity hotspots . According to Conservation International , to qualify as

462-496: A large rhino population before the poaching crisis. An additional eight rhinos were moved to Manas by the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation. In mid-2012, one of the female rhinos gave birth to the first calf born in Manas since rhino reintroductions began. Thirteen more rhinos births, including one second generation calf, have been born in the park since then – a sure sign that

528-541: A low success rate. Successful translocations are characterized by moving a large number of individuals, using a wild population as the source of the translocated individuals, and removing the problems which caused their decline within the area they are being translocated. The translocation of 254 black bears to the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas resulted in more than 2,500 individuals 11 years later and has been seen as one of

594-460: A population of around 9,090 in 1980, but due to a wave of illegal poaching for its horn their numbers decreased to 1,300 in 1995. Due to the efforts of conservation groups like the International Black Rhino Foundation, the population has stabilized, illegal poaching has been reduced, and the population has even been growing. The population of South-central Black Rhinoceros was around 1,650 in 2001. Nine years later, there are about 4,000 black rhinos in

660-457: A population, the root cause of the population decline should be addressed, allowing for the effort to not go to waste. Further notable considerations include assessing the capacity of the environment to sustain the desired population, and assuring translocated individuals have a diverse genetic makeup and are from a similar climatic or ecological area. Benefits of reinforcement include an increase in genetic diversity, increased populations sizes, and

726-599: A resident population of about 30 Sumatran rhino and is also the site of the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary. Five patrol units operate in Ujung Kulon National Park , home to the only remaining viable population of Javan rhinos in the world. Because of the challenges and uncertainties of conserving the Sumatran rhino, the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Asian Rhino Specialist Group recommended developing

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792-468: A result, within the last decade, the husbandry and captive propagation of Sumatran rhinos has passed from its infancy to its adolescence. The International Rhino Foundation has been steadfastly working to address these issues with the expertise of numerous veterinarians and reproductive biologists. The nine Sumatran rhinos living at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts; instruments for education for local communities and

858-401: A secure communications system as well as other security measures. In-situ conservation In-situ conservation is the on-site conservation or the conservation of genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal species, such as forest genetic resources in natural populations of tree species. This process protects the inhabitants and ensures the sustainability of

924-439: A species integral to an ecosystem has been lost due to extinction, a related species will be placed to fulfil the same role and re-establish the ecosystem function. These typically range from a related sub-species to another species within the same genus. An example of such is the ecological services herbivores provide. Besides consuming plants, herbivores also spread seeds and provide disturbances for new plants to grow as seen with

990-412: A tool is used to reduce the risk of a catastrophe to a species with a single population, to improve genetic heterogeneity of separated populations of a species, to aid the natural recovery of a species or re-establish a species where barriers might prevent it from doing so naturally. It is also used to move ecological features out of the way of development. Several critically endangered plant species in

1056-602: A type of protected area in India in the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act 2002, to provide legal support to community or privately owned reserves which cannot be designated as national park or wildlife sanctuary. Sacred groves are tracts of forest set aside where all the trees and wildlife within are venerated and given total protection. China has up to 2538 nature reserves covering 15% of the country. The majority of in situ conservation areas are concentrated in

1122-488: A vacant role in the ecosystem. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) catalogs translocation projects and creates extensive guidelines for their design and execution around the globe. Translocation can be an effective management strategy and important topic in conservation biology , but despite their popularity, translocations are a high‐cost endeavor with a history of failures. It may decrease

1188-472: A variety of different means, but many result from global shipping routes. Aquatic species are a common example as they are commonly transported with ship ballast water and from recreational boat hull fouling communities. Between 1973 and 1989 an estimated 515 translocations occurred per year in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The majority were conducted in the United States. Birds were

1254-571: A wilderness area serves a dual purpose of providing a protection for the natural region as well as providing recreational opportunities for patrons (excluding motorized transport) A national park is an area dedicated for the conservation of wildlife along with its environment. A national park is an area which is used to conserve scenery, natural and historical objects. It is usually a small reserve covering an area of about 100 to 500 square kilometers. Within biosphere reserves, one or more national parks may also exist. Wildlife sanctuaries can provide

1320-466: Is for pest control in human areas and as a way to protect crops. Another common introduction of species is through the pet trade. As anything from reptiles, mammals, birds, and amphibians are owned as pets, many species have been introduced after escaping or being released by owners. Other reasons include economic gain from having a natural resource grown or cultivated in a new area, or for decorative displays. Unintentional introductions can also occur though

1386-544: Is not deemed feasible. One of the primary goals of such populations is to hold onto aspects of the populations that would be lost if captured for captive breeding . One of the main aspects lost within those populations is genetic diversity as selective pressures are no longer present. This form of translocation can move organisms to areas close to their native range or move them far distances to areas separated by non-habitats. There are many examples of assisted colonization proving to be successful, but there are voices challenging

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1452-540: Is to improve the conservation status of the translocated organism or to restore the function and processes of the ecosystem the organism is entering. Two overarching goals of translocation are population restoration and conservation introduction. Population restoration includes reinforcing existing populations and reintroducing populations to areas where they have disappeared. Conservation introduction involves assisted colonization of organisms in entirely new areas, and ecological replacement of organisms to new areas to fulfill

1518-457: Is very cheap and convenient. Wildlife and livestock conservation involves the protection of wildlife habitats. Sufficiently large reserves must be maintained to enable the target species to exist in large numbers. The population size must be sufficient to enable the necessary genetic diversity to survive, so that it has a good chance of continuing to adapt and evolve over time. This reserve size can be calculated for target species by examining

1584-485: The Galápagos Tortoises on Pinta Island . If a primary herbivore is lost, the ecosystem would greatly suffer as the consumed plants would take over due to being unregulated. The process of ecological replacement is used as a form of conservation to maintain healthy ecosystems, but unintended ecological replacement can also occur through invasive species. If an invasive organism is introduced to an area which contains

1650-486: The western swamp tortoise of Australia and a subcanopy conifer tree in the United States called Florida torreya . Reinforcement is the deliberate introduction and integration of an organism into an area where its species is already established. This mode of translocation is implemented in populations whose numbers have dropped below critical levels, become dangerously inbred, or who need artificial immigration to maintain genetic diversity. Before enacting reinforcement of

1716-479: The 1,215 rhinos slaughtered for their horns in 2014. About two-thirds of the killing has taken place in Kruger National Park, which shares a 221 porous miles of its 621-mile border with Mozambique. IRF's "Operation: Stop Poaching Now" campaign aims to raise awareness and funding for 10 Ways to Fight Rhino Poaching: In an effort to protect and increase the world's black rhino population by moving animals from

1782-593: The Island of Borneo. Overall, the population of Sumatran rhinos has decreased at a rate of about 50% over the past 15 years, largely from habitat encroachment, deforestation and habitat fragmentation. In Indonesia, IRF funds Rhino Protection Units (RPUs) which rigorously patrol forests to destroy snares and traps (the main method of poaching for these species) and apprehend poachers. By gathering intelligence from local communities, RPUs also proactively prevent poaching attempts before they take place. RPUs are effective in protecting

1848-474: The Sanctuary held only one pair of animals, which were not reproductively sound. The SRS is now home to nine animals, including calves born in 2012, 2016, 2022, and 2023. It is staffed by two full-time Indonesian veterinarians, 11 keepers, several administrative and support staff, and protection units. Over the years, a number of circumstantial, medical, and management problems have been addressed and overcome. As

1914-618: The USFWS, the International Rhino Foundation embarked on a project, Indian Rhino Vision 2020, with the aim of increasing the population of Indian rhinos in Assam, India, to 3,000 in at least seven protected areas by the year 2020. The first translocations, from Pabitora to Manas National Park , took place in April 2008. Animals were radio-collared and regularly monitored to gauge the success of

1980-768: The Web sites for the African Rhino Specialist Group and the Asian Rhino Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature . The Critically Endangered Sumatran and Javan rhinoceros may be the most threatened of all land mammals on Earth. Fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos remain, primarily on Indonesia's Sumatra Island. The population of Javan rhinos numbers only around 65-68 animals. Over

2046-468: The accessions of a variety stored at a germplasm bank and those of the same variety multiplied by farmers are jointly tested in the producers field and in the laboratory, under different situations and stresses. Thus, the scientific knowledge about the production characteristics of the native varieties is enhanced. Later, the best tested accessions are crossed, mixed, and multiplied under replicable situations. At last, these improved accessions are supplied to

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2112-420: The animal is considered a non-native species in that area. If this new species does not harm its new environment, it will remain a non-native species, but once the introduced species begins to enact damage on the natural functions of the ecosystem, it becomes classified as an invasive species . When species are purposely introduced into an area, there can be a multitude of motivations behind them. A common purpose

2178-434: The early 1990s. IRF works primarily in the lowveld conservancies of Zimbabwe. The Lowveld Rhino Program concentrates its activities in two private conservancies where the majority of the rhino population lives and where there is still significant room for expansion – Save Valley and Bubye Valley Conservancies. The first black rhinos were introduced into Bubye Valley in 2002 – by 2012, the 100th black rhino had been born. Over

2244-476: The effectiveness of this process, highlighting potential unintended consequences. The introduction of these species can alter ecosystem process, ecological interactions between organisms, decrease biodiversity , cause hybridization, and in some cases even cause other species to go extinct. Ecological Replacement is the process of deliberately releasing organisms beyond their native habitat, to fulfil an ecological function which has been vacated in an environment. If

2310-497: The environment and ecosystem. Its converse is ex situ conservation , where threatened species are moved to another location. These can include places like seed libraries, gene banks and more where they are protected through human intervention. Nature reserves (or biosphere reserves) cover very large areas, often more than 5000 km . They are used to protect species for a long time. There are 3 different classifications for these reserves: Strict natural areas are creates to protect

2376-451: The environment where they have developed their distinctive properties. Another benefit is that this strategy helps ensure the ongoing processes of evolution and adaptation within their environments. As a last resort, ex situ conservation may be used on some or all of the population, when in situ conservation is too difficult, or impossible. The species gets adjusted to the natural disasters like drought, floods, forest fires and this method

2442-403: The exception of one bull lost to fighting, all animals are doing well, and are fitted with radio transmitters and tracked regularly. Great Fish River Nature Reserve covers some 46,000 hectares (110,000 acres) of prime shrubby rhino habitat, which holds a growing population of black rhino that must be protected at all costs. IRF's grants helped to build and equip new guard posts in areas where it

2508-437: The extinct population most likely had. In regards to life history traits, most reintroduced species are endangered, and knowledge about the life history traits of endangered species tends to be limited. Knowing when the species is sexually mature, how many offspring they will have, their average lifespan, and more, are vital to the success of these programs. Oftentimes the effectiveness of reintroductions are also questioned due to

2574-531: The failed attempt of Bufo hemiophys baxteri in Wyoming and B. boreas in the Southern Rocky Mountains. For species that have declined over large areas and long periods of time translocations are of little use. Maintaining a large and widely dispersed population of amphibians and other species is the most important aspect of maintaining regional diversity and translocation should only be attempted when

2640-473: The general public; an " insurance population " that can be used to re-establish or revitalize wild populations that have been eliminated or debilitated; an invaluable resource for basic and applied biological research; and, in the future, as sources of animals for reintroductions, once threats have been ameliorated in the wild. In 2007, in partnership with the Assam Forest Department, WWF-India , and

2706-399: The lack of these considerations and neglected post release monitoring. Assisted colonization is the process of deliberately releasing endangered organism beyond its native habitat in order to prevent the extinction of its species. This process of creating “insurance populations” is primarily used when the species faces current or future threats and prevention of them or protection from them

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2772-466: The last 3 to 4 years, this population has been growing annually between 5 and 10%, which bodes well for the species' future in Zimbabwe. Based on the extent of available black rhino habitat in this region, the Lowveld Rhino Trust team is hopeful that another 100 calves could be born in the next 5 years. By the end of 2015, 1,342 rhinos had been killed by poachers in South Africa alone, overtaking

2838-488: The most frequently translocated, followed by threatened and endangered species, then non-game species. Of the 261 translocations in the United States reported wild species were most frequently translocated, and the greatest number occurred in the Southeast. Species translocation can vary greatly across taxa. For instance, bird and mammal translocations have a high success rate, while amphibian and reptile translocations have

2904-519: The most successful translocations in order Carnivora . Another example of successful translocation is the gray wolf translocation in Yellowstone National Park . Often, when conducting translocation programs, differences in specific habitat types between the source and release sites are not evaluated as long as the release site contains suitable habitat for the species. Translocations could be especially damaging to endangered species citing

2970-485: The movement of the South China tiger out of its natural habitat. In eastern and southern China, many undeveloped natural landscapes are fragmented; however, nature reserves may provide crucial refuge for key species and ecosystem services. Insurance population Translocation is the human action of moving an organism from one area and releasing it in another. In terms of wildlife conservation , its objective

3036-619: The past 10 years, however, losses of Sumatran and Javan rhino have been nearly eliminated in Indonesia through intensive anti-poaching and intelligence activities by IRF-funded Rhino Protection Units. The successes of these units have kept the two species from extinction and are critical for their continued population recovery. Sumatran rhinos are considered extinct in Malaysia, but a tiny population (no more than 10) has recently been found in Kalimantan on

3102-440: The population density in naturally occurring situations. The reserves must then be protected from intrusion or destruction by man, and against other catastrophes. In agriculture , in situ conservation techniques are an effective way to improve, maintain, and use traditional or native varieties of agricultural crops. Such methodologies link the positive output of scientific research with farmers' experience and field work. First,

3168-511: The producers. Thus, farmers are enabled to crop improved selections of their own varieties, instead of being lured to substitute their own varieties with commercial ones or to abandon their crop. This technique of conservation of agricultural biodiversity is more successful in marginal areas, where commercial varieties are not expedient, due to climate and soil fertility constraints, or where the taste and cooking characteristics of traditional varieties compensate for their lower yields. About 4% of

3234-608: The reduction of Allee effect . Unfortunately, reinforcement also comes with a range of detrimental effects, which have been found through research in recent years. Some concerns specifically involve behavior and morphology changes in the population. Behavioral changes include reduced anti-predator responses, high aggression in resource competition, reduced breeding success, and difficulty finding successful habitat during dispersal. Morphological changes include altered dental health plus digestion struggle due to non-captive diets, and decreased defenses against predators. Along with these changes,

3300-451: The regions of Tibet , Qinghai , and Xinjiang . These provinces, all in western China, account for about 56% of the country's nature reserves. Eastern and southern China contain 90% of the country's population, and there are few nature reserves in these areas. In these regions, nature reserves actively compete with human development projects to support a growing demand for infrastructure. One consequence of this competing development has been

3366-399: The reintroduction process. Joint government/community patrol units regularly patrolled the park to prevent poaching and encroachment and to monitor the new rhino population. Over the next 4 years, IRV 2020 moved 18 Indian rhinos from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaziranga National Park to Manas National Park, a protected area and UNESCO World Heritage site that had previously been home to

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3432-715: The rhino from poachers - only five Sumatran rhinos have been lost to poachers since the inception of the program, and no Javan rhinos have been killed. Eleven patrol units operate in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in Sumatra, one of the highest priority areas for Sumatran megafauna. Approximately 15 Sumatran rhino inhabit the Park, along with 40-50 Sumatran tigers and around 500 Asian elephants. Nine patrol units operate in Way Kambas National Park , which has

3498-436: The risk of extinction by increasing the range of a species, augmenting the numbers in a critical population, or establishing new populations. Translocation may also improve the level of biodiversity in the ecosystem . Translocation may be expensive and is often subject to public scrutiny, particularly when the species involved is charismatic or perceived as dangerous (for example wolf reintroduction ). Translocation as

3564-868: The southwestern Western Australia have either been considered for translocation or trialled. Grevillea scapigera is one such case, threatened by rabbits, dieback and degraded habitat. The rarest marsupial in the world, Gilbert's potoroo , has been successfully translocated to remote islands in Western Australia as "insurance populations". Translocation is a traditional, if rarely used, conservation tool. However, in this century of rapid climate change it has recently been reframed as assisted migration of narrowly endemic , critically endangered species that are already experiencing (or soon expected to experience) climate change beyond their levels of tolerance. Two examples of critically endangered relict species for which assisted migration projects are already underway are

3630-421: The spread of disease poses additional problems. As captive individuals start breeding with wild individuals, genes which are unable to resist wild diseases might spread through the population, leading to large mortality when diseases arise. Reintroduction is the intentional process of reinstating an organism into an ecosystem previously occupied by that species. Individuals who are reintroduced can be caught from

3696-435: The state of nature in a given region. It is not made for the purpose of protecting any species within its limits. managed natural areas alternatively are made specifically for the purpose of protecting a certain species or community that is at the point it may be at risk being in a strict natural area. This is a more controlled environment that is created to be the most optimal habitat for the species concerned to thrive. Finally,

3762-746: The tiger and elephant, and Ranthambore National Park conserving the tiger. There are 551 wildlife sanctuaries in India . Biodiversity hotspots include the Himalayas , the Western Ghats , the Indo-Burma region and the Sundaland . India has set up its first gene sanctuary in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya for wild relatives of citrus. Efforts are also being made to set up gene sanctuaries for banana, sugarcane, rice and mango. Community reserves were established as

3828-563: The total geographical area of India is used for in situ conservation. There are 18 biosphere reserves in India , including Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand, Nokrek in Meghalaya, Manas National Park in Assam and Sundarban in West Bengal. There are 106 national parks in India , including The Kaziranga National Park which conserves The one-horned rhino , Periyar National Park conserving

3894-427: The translocated animals are adapting well to their new home. Unfortunately, this population has also been touched by poaching – part of a region-wide increase in poaching in 2012-2013. After losing eight animals, IRV 2020 halted rhino translocations to Manas in 2013 to focus on improving security. Training in new patrolling methods, along with the support of new park leadership, has made a big difference – only one rhino

3960-603: The wild and translocated to the new area or can come from captive breeding programs in zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, and similar organizations. The purpose of reintroduction is to create a free-ranging, viable, and reproductively sustainable population which will help restore its environment. Multiple challenges have arisen with reintroductions, mainly concerning genetics and life history traits. Research assessing these concerns of reintroduction tend to primarily focus on genetics. The concern involving genetics revolves around reintroduced individuals not having locally selected traits, which

4026-487: The wild. In 1993, the IBRF changed its name to the International Rhino Foundation and expanded its focus to all five species of rhinoceros. The International Rhino Foundation helps manage programs in both nature and captivity and also funds research into rhinos. IRF programs in captivity focus on developing ways to help rhinos in the wild. The International Rhino Foundation is active in several areas of rhino conservation. It hosts

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4092-486: Was converted from cattle ranges to wildlife management areas, Zimbabwe's Lowveld region is now home to nearly 90% of the country's rhino population. These large land tracts operate as wildlife-based businesses that help safeguard a variety of threatened species. In early 2008, poaching in Zimbabwe reached critical levels and rhino numbers in the Lowveld began to decline for the first time since populations were established there in

4158-427: Was first developed in the 1970s and include a core, buffer and transition zones. These zones act together to harmonize the conservation and development aspects of the biosphere. Since 2004, and 30 years following the invention of the biosphere reserve concept, there have been about 459 conservation areas developed in 97 countries. One benefit of in situ conservation is that it maintains recovering populations in

4224-570: Was lost to poaching in Manas in 2014, and the current population of 33 translocated rhinos and new calves continues to thrive. Zimbabwe is home to the world's fourth largest black rhino population after South Africa, Namibia and Kenya. Organized gangs of poachers slaughtered nearly one-quarter of the country's rhinos between 2007 and 2009, as once again southern African nations faced an upsurge in poaching activity. The renewed poaching activity has been driven primarily by demand from Asian markets, particularly Vietnam and China. Formerly degraded land that

4290-461: Was previously difficult for staff to operate because of a lack of accommodations, and has funded a secure communications system for the reserve. In Phinda Private Game Reserve , also an important rhino area, IRF has funding a rapid response team that can preemptively respond to ever-increasing poaching incursions. Funds have also strengthened relationships with local communities, a valuable source of information that can help to avert poaching, supplied

4356-424: Was through lethal control of the nuisance animals, but practices have been shifting to translocations. Many problems have arrived with such translocations as there is a lack of scientific security as these translocations do not occur for conservation goals, but for human needs instead. Introductions involve the purposeful or accidental translocation of species beyond their native range. After an introduction occurs,

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