Conserving endangered Southern White Rhino

lara semple Start Date: Jan 17, 2016 - End Date: May 15, 2016
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
  • South Africa

My Travel Story

by: lara semple Start Date: Jan 17, 2016 - End Date: May 15, 2016
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
I am currently studying International nature conservation for my Master's degree. I will travel to South Africa to help White Rhino conservation. My project is based on bird- mammal feeding associations. 
The classic image of African savanna is a rhino with a bird on its back. Most people believe that this relationship is symbolic of a mutualism as the bird eats the irritating ticks from the animal's body. However there is research that states this relationship is not beneficial for the mammal as the bird mainly wound feeds. 
There has also never been a quantitative study on the relationship between these bird species and mammals. 
White Rhino are the only megaherbivores able to sustain the grassland ecosystem. Therefore if they become extinct in the next 10-20 years, as predicted by researchers, the whole ecosystem will suffer, including the birds that rely on the white rhino. 
My research will be used to gain financial contributions from the government and other NGOs for the continued protection of the White rhino and the species that live in close association with them. 

This research is a necessary part of my degree, but I hope it will be the start of a long and successful career in conservation where we start to hear good news about species populations.
  • South Africa

More Travel Information