Rhino Sanctuary, Wild dogs and solar panels
Mkomazi Game Reserve is an intiative by the Tanzanian Government, George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust Fund and other Non-Government Organizations to re-establish the reserve such that nature (both flora and fauna) will survive in the long term as an ecosystem and to provide sanctuary for two endangered species of animals: the Black Rhino and the African Wild Dog.
WildiZe Foundation funds supported the:
- Construction of permanent security outposts,
- Purchases of communications equipment,
- Purchases of solar equipment to power electric fences
- Establishment of captive breeding programmes for endangered species,
- Establishment of educational, health and nature awareness programmes in the villages surrounding Mkomanzi Game Reserve.
WildiZe is a proud supporter of these critical efforts. Our funds have gone to upgrade security outposts in the Rhino sanctuary to deter poaching; educating bordering communities on wildlife and economic security; collaborating with TANAPA (Tanzanian National Park personnel) on poaching determent; and private and public security improvement.
Additional important projects that were augmented thanks to WildiZe support is the continued reintroduction of wild dogs to the natural ecosystem and hopeful reintroduction into bordering Tsavo National Park in Kenya. We also provided security guards with radios and chargers to connect outpost to base stations, and funded the installation uni-ports and solar equipment to power electric fences.
WildiZe has also funded the start up re-furbishment of George Adamson's old Kora camp inside Kora National Park near Meru, Kenya- home of Christian the Lion, Elsa and Born Free fame. The camp was destroyed upon the death of George Adamson, whence Tony Fitzjohn moved his efforts to Mkomazi.
Project web Site: http://www.georgeadamson.org/mkomazi
July 8th 2009: Update - from Tony Fitzjohn
We are having a fascinating time with these new rhinos from Czech. It's a 
whole different business reintroducing zoo-bred animals into the wild but we are extremely fortunate to have Berry White (ex head rhino keeper from Port Lympne Wildlife Park in the UK) to help slowly reintroduce them back into the wild.
All is going well with the WildiZe project. Uniports are on their way to both Kora National Park and Mkomazi National Park. Radio and solar equipment is all ordered for the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary, and all is on track.
We are also getting on with putting up the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary Fence Extension which is a huge clearing and fencing job, and the WildiZe funded uniport will then be put into this new extended area and it will house the security force who will patrol the area and keep the rhinos there safe.
We have 22 wild dog puppies so reintroductions will start next year.
And yesterday our Tanzanian school pupils had a lesson with HRH Prince Michael of Kent sitting in the classroom as one of their fellow pupils. They obviously had no idea that the man with the beard was the cousin of the Queen of England and it was so touching to see them trying to categorise mammals and fish and reptiles and amphibians with him watching.
Read all about the Chzech Rhino translocation...
