由於野放的黑犀牛族群復育情況良好，位於南非夸祖魯-納塔爾省北部的蓬戈拉私人狩獵保留區14日舉行了一項慶祝典禮。
為了慶祝非洲犀牛保育計畫達成10年的里程碑，成功拯救黑犀牛免於絕種的命運，國際保育團體世界自然基金會（WWF）邀請更多國家共同加入這項保育行動。參與慶祝典禮的包括南非、那米比亞、肯亞與辛巴威等國家的政府及保育代表、社區居民代表和生態旅遊業者；這幾個國家目前都是WWF非洲犀牛保育計畫的成員。
此外，波茲瓦那、馬拉威、莫三比克、坦尚尼亞與尚比亞的國家生態官員或代理人也都受邀出席，WWF希望將犀牛保育的成功經驗推廣到這些國家。
非洲莽原過去曾有超過百萬頭的黑、白犀牛棲息，但因為犀牛角的裝飾與藥用價值，犀牛被歐洲殖民者大舉獵補而消失。非洲南部的白犀牛在19世紀末已瀕臨滅絕，隨著犀角交易在1970與1980年代達到鼎盛，犀角大量輸入中東與亞洲市場牟利 。
為了因應這波危機，1977年黑、白兩種非洲犀牛都被列入「國際瀕危物種貿易公約（CITES）」的附錄一中，禁止所有犀牛身體與製品的國際貿易。雖然受到國際公約保護，黑犀牛的數量仍於1995年創下2400頭的最低紀錄。1997年，野外僅存8466頭白犀牛與2599頭黑犀牛。
如今，白犀牛的數目達到14500頭，較為稀少的黑犀牛則約有4千頭。南非與史瓦濟蘭的白犀牛族群被移入CITES的附錄二，即在嚴格法規限制下准許交易。透過有限度的永續化使用方式，犀牛角為這兩個國家帶來經濟收入，可進一步投資在犀牛的保育計畫中。
WWF發言人迪奇（Phil Dickie）表示，非洲犀牛保育計畫是「以犀牛為主，作為生態系統與地景保育計畫的一部份，並且深知應將人類也納入地景之中一併考量。這個計畫重心在於提高犀牛的數目，讓犀牛族群數成長至以往的數量，並且和地主協商移除圍欄，以連結分散的犀牛族群。」
WWF國際物種計畫主任萊柏曼博士（Susan Lieberman）指出，「非洲的犀牛保育行動日益茁壯，但是在犀牛棲息的地區，盜獵、非法交易與任意開發依舊是嚴重問題，現在還不是能自滿的時刻。」
WWF從事犀牛保育已有45年，直到在非洲犀牛保育計畫中，使用了整合的方式，透過實地參與，結合在地社群到全球政策等各層級的行動，才終獲成功。
WWF也發現，在族群復育計畫引進犀牛後，周圍的地價立刻上升，意外成為保育行動成功的另類指標。
Pongola Game Reserve, a privately owned reserve in northern KwaZulu Natal province where relocated black rhinos are thriving, was the scene of a rhino survival celebration Friday.
After bringing Africa's black rhinos back from the brink of extinction, the global conservation organization WWF celebrated the first decade of its African Rhino Program by inviting more countries to become involved.
Celebrants included government and wildlife representatives, community representatives and ecotourism operators from South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Zimbabwe, all countries that are now participants in the WWF African Rhino Program.
Also on hand were the directors or deputy directors of the national wildlife services of Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia - countries where WWF is exploring expansion of the successful conservation program.
Africa's savannas once were inhabited by more than a million white and black rhinos. But hunting by European settlers wiped out most of the animals, whose horns are valued for ornamental and medicinal purposes.
The southern white rhino was close to extinction by the late 19th century. Trade in rhino horn peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, when huge quantities were shipped to the lucrative markets of the Middle East and Asia.
Responding to the crisis, both species of African rhino were listed in 1977 in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, which prohibits all international trade of rhino parts and products.
Despite this international legal protection, the black rhino population at its lowest point dipped to 2,400 in 1995. In 1997, there were 8,466 white rhinos and 2,599 black rhinos remaining in the wild.
Today, there are 14,500 white rhinos and nearly 4,000 of the more endangered black rhinos.
Populations of white rhino in South Africa and Swaziland have even been moved to CITES Appendix II which allows strictly regulated trade. In these two countries limited sustainable use options have provided economic incentives for further investment in rhino conservation.
The African Rhino Program uses rhinos as a "flagship species" and "part of a process of ecosystem and landscape conservation, wtih a clear understanding that there are people in the landscape as well,"
explained WWF spokesman Phil Dickie. "The accent has been on growing rhino numbers and spreading rhino populations back into their former range, connecting rhino areas by talking to landowners and taking down fences."
"Rhino conservation in Africa is going from strength to strength," said WWF International's Species program Director Dr. Susan Lieberman. "But poaching, illegal trade, and unplanned development remain significant problems across the rhinos' range and there is no room for complacency."
Although WWF has worked on rhino conservation throughout its 45 year history, the African Rhino Program has an integrated approach that has been successful. Working through field projects, it has combined action at every level from local communities to global policy.
One striking, if unanticipated, indicator of the success of the program is that land prices immediately increase in areas where rhinos are re-introduced through a range expansion program, WWF has found.
全文及圖片詳見：ENS
