As discussed above, individuals from the MMNR
Black rhino population frequently move between the CCN and CCTM
areas of the MMNR, between the MMNR and the Serengeti National
Park, and potentially into adjacent community areas as well. If the
Mara rhino population is to be effectively monitored, and the
movements and dynamics of the population better understood, these
movements necessitate strong collaboration between the managers of
different areas within the greater Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
However, to date, collaboration between the management of these
areas has been hampered by a number of factors, including a lack of
formal agreements between the relevant institutions, and
inconsistencies in monitoring protocols and data recording and
storage between the different areas. At times this has seriously
hampered the effective management of the population; for example,
it has been difficult to identify whether the low rate of MMNR
population increase has been due to migration to the SNP, or other
more serious factors.
This uncertainty is recognised in the National
Black Rhino Conservation and Management Strategy, which includes an
action to develop a joint Mara-Serengeti monitoring system,
involving training of rhino monitoring staff and the development of
a shared master Rhino ID file. MMNR management will support the
development of this collaborative rhino monitoring and surveillance
system, initially by initiating or supporting steps to establish a
formal basis for rhino monitoring collaboration between MMNR
management, KWS and TANAPA (e.g. through the development of an MoU
or similar collaboration framework). This will be followed by
efforts to ensure the standardisation of rhino monitoring data
collection forms, the availing of staff for training as and when
required, and provision of any additional support needed by KWS to
expedite the development of the joint Mara-Serengeti monitoring
system as appropriate.
