THE IMPORTATION OF THE BLACK RHINOCEROS (DICEROS-BICORNIS) FROM ZIMBABWE INTO AUSTRALIA

The paper describes a program to import and breed black rhinoceros ex situ at Western Plains Zoo in Australia, Nine rhinoceros (7 females an d 2 males) captured in 1992 in Chete National Park, Zimbabwe, were tra nsported to Australia via Cocos Island. The veterinary treatment of th e animals before and during quarantine in Zimbabwe and on Cocos (Keeli ng) Islands is described. Three animals died; an adult male on Cocos I slands and a juvenile male and an adult female at Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, New South Wales. The juvenile male died as a result of trauma s ustained shortly after arrival and the two adults after developing a s evere hepatopathy, The group of 6 females and an additional 4 males im ported from the USA in 1994 have adapted well to captivity and to the climate and environment of central west New South Wales.