@Deer Forest. The original pair imported from South Africa are Diceros bicornis minor and the imported pair from Japan are derived from East African stocks Diceros bicornis michaeli. So, your answer is a full affirmative YES, they are different subspecies.
Perhaps you can draw the attention of management to this essential difference in subspecies which in management of the world population is truly important in order not to genetically pollute evolutionary divergent different subspecies.
@Deer Forest. The original pair imported from South Africa are Diceros bicornis minor and the imported pair from Japan are derived from East African stocks Diceros bicornis michaeli. So, your answer is a full affirmative YES, they are different subspecies.
Perhaps you can draw the attention of management to this essential difference in subspecies which in management of the world population is truly important in order not to genetically pollute evolutionary divergent different subspecies.
Is there a possibility that the black rhinos imported from South Africa are those ones transfered from Kenya and released into the Africa ? Some eastern African rhinos were transfered to SA in the conservation purpose in 1980s ( or 1990s?).
Is there a possibility that the black rhinos imported from South Africa are those ones transfered from Kenya and released into the Africa ? Some eastern African rhinos were transfered to SA in the conservation purpose in 1980s ( or 1990s?).
In all the international studbooks the original pair imported from SA are listed under Diceros b. minor. So, no and out of the question here.
The E. African born rhinos transferred from Kenya to Addo NP and later to a private conservancy (to enable the Addo NP to switch to one of the SA subspecies (both bicornis and minor occur). This source population is destined to be a core group for reintroduction into Serengeti - Tanzania. In the past some individuals from this group have been transferred to Port Lympne, UK and Magdeburg, Germany, while one was sent to Ngorongoro NP for infusing new blood into all these captive / wild populations.
In all the international studbooks the original pair imported from SA are listed under Diceros b. minor. So, no and out of the question here.
The E. African born rhinos transferred from Kenya to Addo NP and later to a private conservancy (to enable the Addo NP to switch to one of the SA subspecies (both bicornis and minor occur). This source population is destined to be a core group for reintroduction into Serengeti - Tanzania. In the past some individuals from this group have been transferred to Port Lympne, UK and Magdeburg, Germany, while one was sent to Ngorongoro NP for infusing new blood into all these captive / wild populations.
