As per the 2021 census, there was a total of 1, 741 rhinos of which 897
were the black rhinos while two are the northern white rhinos.
The notches are carefully planned to ensure they do not cause harm to
the animal and are done under the supervision of trained professionals.
Tourism CS Rebecca Miano and KWS DG Erastus Kanga during the launch of ear notching and tagging of endangered black rhinos at Ngulia Lodge in Tsavo West National Park/HANDOUT
The Kenya Wildlife Service on Tuesday launched the ear-notching and fitting transmitters on 17 endangered black rhinos in the Maasai Mara in a major conservation effort.
The 10-day exercise, which has also been undertaken in other parks and game reserves, is aimed at enhancing monitoring capabilities and ensuring the security of the rhinos.
Individual ID-based monitoring has been identified as one of the most reliable methods for accurately updating population estimates.
The exercise is being conducted in collaboration with significant conservation effort with various partners including the Maasai Mara Conservancy, Wildlife Research Training Institute (WRTI) and 51 Degrees.
Others are The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Safari Collection, Asian Wildlife Foundation, The Footprint Foundation, and the Maasai Mara National Reserve led by Chief Warden Stephen Minis.
The ongoing exercise involves marking the animals with unique notches on their ears, allowing wildlife officials and conservationists to identify individual rhinos in the wild.
Why is it necessary and how does it contribute to the survival of the species?
The black rhino is an iconic species in Africa, known for its wide-ranging habitats across the continent, but it has faced severe population declines due to poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict.
As per the 2021 census, there was a total of 1,741 rhinos of which 897 were the black rhinos while two are the northern white rhinos.
KWS conducts census of all wild animals every three years.Globally, it is estimated that black rhinos are less 5,000.
To protect and manage these endangered creatures, conservationists and wildlife authorities use ear notching as part of their monitoring and management programs.
The process involves cutting small notches along the edge of a rhino’s ear in a unique pattern that can be used to identify each individual.
The notches are carefully planned to ensure they do not cause harm to the animal and are done under the supervision of trained professionals.
Ear notching helps conservationists track rhino movements, monitor their health, and gather data about their behavior and breeding patterns.
It also helps in the protection of rhinos from poachers by making it easier to recognise them in the event of illegal hunting activities.
With every rhino having a distinct set of ear notches, researchers can easily distinguish them in the field, reducing the likelihood of confusion and ensuring each animal’s welfare is monitored.
In Kenya, the ear notching process is just one part of an extensive conservation strategy that includes habitat protection, anti-poaching efforts, and active monitoring through aerial surveys and ground patrols.
In addition to ear notching, rhinos in Kenya are often fitted with GPS collars for further tracking. These collars provide real-time data on the animals’ movements, ensuring prompt responses in case of emergencies or poaching threats.
The combination of these efforts is important for the survival of black rhinos, a species that is slowly but steadily making a comeback thanks to the ongoing commitment to conservation.
