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2019 RHINO RESEARCH GRANTEES

Science drives everything that we do at the International Rhino Foundation. For almost 20 years, we have issued competitive Requests for Research Proposals, applied and basic, that will assist in our ability to manage rhino populations. The IRF is the only source of research funding devoted exclusively to rhinos. In 2018, 13 scientists and seven student submitted proposals, which were then extensively reviewed by well-respected scientists in the pertinent disciplines. We are delighted to announce that we awarded $262,326 in rhino research grant awards to ten projects in January. Funding for this research, is largely due to the generosity of Lee and Ramona Bass, as well a generous bequest from the late Mark Hopkins Schell.

THE 2019 GRANT AWARDEES ARE:

  • Research project to investigate the applicability of SigFox low-power wide-area radio frequency networks for rhino monitoring and security, Zimbabwe, Zambia
    Hugo van der Westhuizen, Ed Sayer, Raoul du Toit
  • The development of an integrated ‘real-time’ rhinoceros monitoring and surveillance system in the Munyawana Conservancy, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    Craig Sholto-Douglas, Simon Naylor, Winston Pretorius, Senzo Qwabe, Nicholas Mtshali, Charli De Vos, Richard Steyn
  • Establishing the pharmacokinetic profiles of commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Australia
    Benn Bryant, Merran Govendir
  • Impact of dietary phytate supplementation on iron and phosphorus utilization in Black Rhinoceros, USA
    Laura Cersosimo, Kathleen Sullivan
  • Pharmacological management of stress and its pathophysiological consequences during transport of free-ranging rhinoceros, South Africa
    Leith Meyer, Peter Buss, Markus Hofmyer, Emma Hooijberg, Friederike Pohlin
  • Influence of Ex Situ Management on Gut Microbiota of the Southern Black Rhinoceros, USA
    Budhan S. Pukazhenthi, Keith A. Crandall, Timothy Cleland, Yue Li
  • Appraisal of Sumatran Rhino captures and translocations 1984-1994, Spain
    Kees Rookmaaker

FOUR STUDENT PROPOSALS WERE ALSO AWARDED:

  • The behavioural ecology of reproduction and demography in White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) United Kingdom
    Sarah Scott, Caroline Bettridge, Bradley Cain, Selvino de Kort
  • Assessing the conservation value of Ex Situ Populations of the Critically Endangered Eastern Black Rhino, United Kingdom
    Franziska Elsner-Gearing, Catherine Walton, Susanne Shultz, Mark Pilgrim, Petra Kretzschmar
  • Using conservation physiology to improve the Population Management of Eastern Black Rhinos, United Kingdom
    Nicholas Harvey, Susanne Schultz
  • Pharmacokinetics of Phenylbutazone in Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum), USA
    Emma Houck, Katie Delk

OUR THANKS TO ALL OF THE RESEARCHERS WHO SUBMITTED PROPOSALS, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW GRANTEES!


PAST GRANT RECIPIENTS

In 2014, we awarded $203,048 in grants to the following projects:

Mike Bruford, Cardiff University

Assessing the Genetic Health of the Southern Black Rhinoceros Populations Using Genomic Tools

Mary Beth Manjerovich, Lincoln Park Zoo

Investigating Important Factors Affecting Health and Reproduction Ex Situ

Dmitri Petrov, Stanford University

Genetic Studies Relevant to Management of Black Rhinoceros Populations

Budhan Pukazhenthi, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Role of Gut Microbiota in Health and Disease Sensitivity of the Black Rhinoceros

Alan Roca, University of Illinois

Developing Effective Markers for Censusing of Sumatran and Javan Rhinos by Local Researchers

For more resources, please visit Rhino Resource Center.