JOHANNESBURG – A northern KwaZulu-Natal community has become the first to have an ownership share in critically endangered black rhinoceroses.

omkhanda Game Reserve, now owned by the Gumbi community following a successful land claim against five commercial game farms, is a partner in the WWF (SA) and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife black rhino range-expansion project.

Empowering black communities to become stakeholders is a priority in conservation, and Somkhanda is an example of where it is really starting to happen,” said WWF’s Dr Jacques Flamand.

Nkosi Zebeleon Gumbi, head of the Gumbi royal family, put it differently: “When the land was gone, there were no opportunities. Now, there are.”

umbi highlighted the importance of protecting the animals from poachers, but said land would be set aside for development, to boost the community.

he 11 founder black rhino released last week belong to the provincial wildlife authority, but they will be shared 50/50 between the community and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

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