Thrilling news for conservationists as thirty endangered white rhinos have touched down in Rwanda after a monumental journey from South Africa, aboard a Boeing 747. This remarkable event is being hailed as the largest single transfer of the species ever undertaken.
The majestic creatures, each weighing up to two tonnes, embarked on a 3,400-kilometer voyage from South Africa’s Phinda Private Game Reserve to Rwanda’s Akagera National Park. This initiative forms part of a vital program aimed at replenishing the species’ population, which has been severely depleted by poaching since the 1970s.
Once abundant across sub-Saharan Africa, white rhinos faced relentless hunting by European settlers and a subsequent poaching epidemic that nearly drove them to extinction.
The journey of these rhinos, spanning 40 hours, was meticulously planned and executed after months of preparation by African Parks, a charity led by Britain’s Prince Harry. “We had to tranquillize them to reduce their stress, which is itself risky, and monitor them,” stated Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks, celebrating the project’s success.
Upon their arrival in Akagera National Park, the rhinos were settled into two expansive enclosures, each equivalent in size to a football stadium. Authorities have outlined plans to eventually allow them to roam freely in the park, providing a safe haven far from the threats faced in South Africa, where three rhinos are lost to poachers daily.
Despite the risks associated with wildlife transfers, this endeavor marks a significant step towards safeguarding these majestic creatures. In a similar effort in 2018, four out of six relocated black rhinos unfortunately perished a few months after arriving in Chad.
The southern white rhino, a subspecies of the white rhino, is now classified as endangered, with approximately 20,000 individuals remaining globally. The urgency of their plight is underscored by the fact that the northern white rhino is on the brink of extinction, with only two females remaining alive.
Scientists are spearheading innovative initiatives to rescue the northern white rhino from oblivion, including a groundbreaking breeding program. This program, utilizing eggs from one of the remaining females and sperm from deceased males, represents their last hope for survival.
Rwanda, emerging as a premier Big Five safari destination, has been proactive in conservation efforts. In 2019, the country received five eastern black rhinos from the Czech Republic and seventeen from South Africa in 2017. Notably, since the reintroduction of eastern black rhinos in 2017, not a single one has fallen victim to poaching in Akagera Park.
While rhinos have few natural predators due to their size, they face an existential threat from poachers driven by the demand for their horns, used in traditional Chinese medicine. According to the latest research and data, The Number of Black Rhinos Worldwide Is More Than 6,487.
Poaching Statistics
Source Phys.org