Since the release of The Lucky 5 in 2017, we've witnessed our rhino cows mating and successfully birthing three calves. But how do we gauge the success of the bulls?
At Rhino Revolution, we believe that the true measure of a successful rehabilitation is when the animals we’ve nurtured not only survive post-release but also contribute to the long-term growth of the wildlife population. While we've clearly seen success with our cows, evaluating the progress of our bulls is more complex. Male rhinos face the dual challenges of establishing and defending territory while also competing for the attention of females.
Currently, we're closely observing our three rehabilitated bulls. As they reach sexual maturity, they've encountered an opportunity with the recent relocation of a dominant wild bull (moved to prevent inbreeding). This has slightly tilted the playing field, but the journey to dominance is far from straightforward.
One of the bulls, Ubuntu, has shown promise, standing his ground during confrontations in one of the territories. However, the other bulls are not giving up easily, continuing to challenge him for control of the area. Amidst these territorial battles, the bulls are also attempting to court the females, but they’ve faced several rejections. Even trying to reconnect with their offspring has proven difficult, especially for Nkonzo, the youngest bull, who has been repeatedly driven away in his attempts.
We're monitoring this unfolding drama closely, and in the coming months, we hope to see which bull emerges as the victor. Perhaps, within the next 16 months or so, we’ll even have news of new calves. Join us as we follow the exciting journey of The Lucky 5 bulls.