Mkomazi has welcomed three new black rhino’s: two males named Jabu and Jamie and a female called Deborah. The three grew up in the Dvur Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic, one of the most successful captive-breeding programmes for the black rhino in the world. At May 29 they arrived at the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary after a long and heavy journey by truck and airplane.
The three rhino’s were crated at Dvur Králové Zoo at the May 27 and they made a long road trip to Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam where they arrived the next morning. Jabu, Jamie and Deborah rested for the day at the airport in a privately set-aside hangar. They were loaded that night in a Boeing 747 and flew through the night to Kilimanjaro International Airport. After a road trip they arrived in good condition at lunch time at Mkomazi, their new home.
The three are now settling in their new environment. Temporarily they live in a ‘boma’, a livestock enclosure, to get use to the new habitat, food and climate. Later on, they will join the other rhino’s and that will hopefully lead to new baby rhino’s. Jabu, Jamie and Deborah have the same genes as the other nine rhino’s in Mkomazi.
The translocation was made possible through the efforts of the Suzuki Rhino Club in the Netherlands.
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During the month of February, the rains continued and although it is often possible to see rhino during this time, we had not had any sightings in the open for quite some time. After a two week dry spell, we received a radio call from the rhino trackers to say that Rose, a female rhino who had arrived with the first translocation of rhino in 1997, had given birth to her second calf - another female. Rose is also the first rhino to have given birth in Mkomazi, her first calf was born in 2005 and is named Suzi.
Three out of the four Mkomazi adult female rhinos have bred. Rose is in the second phase of reproduction and we are still awaiting to see if Lee (the fourth female) will bring a calf down to the waterhole.
During these early months, baby rhino are fairly vulnerable and the trackers will try and keep a close eye on this new calf without disturbing the mother. They have to watch out for hyena, aswell as another adult female rhino who can be aggressive with another female's young.'
Tony Fitzjohn and the TF/GAWP Trust
Tony Fitzjohn is the Field Director for the Tony Fitzjohn/George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust (The Trust). The four independent funds, together referred to as “The Trust”, and are located in USA, UK, Holland and Tanzania. The Trust, which raises money and in-kind contributions from a variety of sources, is the sole source of funding for the Mkomazi Project, apart from the Tanzanian Government. Funds in excess of $2 million, originating mostly in the USA, UK and Holland have been raised and spent to date in support of Tony’s work at Mkomazi. The Trust also provides valuable technical support to the Project. The Trust is an all-volunteer organization, paying salaries only to Tanzanian nationals employed by the Reserve. Tony does not take any salary.
The Government of Tanzania (GOT) entered into a partnership with the Trust and Tony in the rehabilitation of the Mkomazi Game Reserve. Guided by the knowledge he gained during his 20 years with George Adamson in Kora, and funded by the Trust, Tony went to work together with the Tanzanian Government project manager, Mr. Mungure. In six short yea rs, their work resulted in the significant rehabilitation of habitat and wildlife, the establishment of endangered species breeding programs and the restoration of Mkomazi’s low-impact infrastructure. In 1995, confident in Tony’s ability to produce results and the Trust’s ability to fund his work, the Government signed a groundbreaking conservation agreement with Tony and the Trust. This agreement has enabled Tony and the Trust to continue with the rehabilitation of the reserve, the endangered species programs and the outreach programs for a period of ten years. Tony has since been asked by the GOT to serve on the national task forces for the black rhino and the African hunting dog.
In June 2006, Tony was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s birthday honors for his services to wildlife in East Africa. This is a singular recognition of his work and the work of the trust over the past 40 years.
GAWP Trust newsletter 2008
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GAWP Trust newsletter 2007
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GAWP Trust newsletter 2006
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HRH The Prince of Wales awarded Tony Fitzjohn on December the 14th with the prestigious Order Of The British Empire. The Ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace in London. Tony received the order for his outstanding work for the George Adamson Wildlfe Preservation Trust in Tanzania. After the ceremony Tony was congratulated by his friends and the people who support his efforts to preserve and protect the wildlife of East Africa. The picture features from left to right: Robert Marshall-Andrews Q.C., M.P. Chairman of the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust UK, Lucy Fitzjohn, Tony Fitzjohn, Andrew Mortimer Esq., Hon. Treasurer of GAWPT UK and Brigadier-General Hashim Mbita (retd.,), Chairman of The Tanzanian Trust, who came over especially for the occasion.
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Tony and Lucy with the Order After the ceremony Tony and Lucy proudly showed the Order Of The British Empire to the photographers and the public at Buckingham Palace. |