White Rhinos Arrive In Rawanda

Threatened by humans hunting for ivory, southern white rhinos, Ceratotherium simum, have come to Rwanda. A South African game park translocated by air thirty of the species to Akagera National Park to establish a new range state. White rhinos are near threatened by constant poaching so transporting them halfway across the continent to a region less plagued by poachers makes conservation sense. Such a long trip under sedation is very stressful for large animals.  There were long delays to the flight and a six hour truck ride to the park before being released to an enclosure for acclimatization.  Communities along the route greeted the rhinos and their rescuers with a positive welcome [photo credit: African Parks]

White rhinos have a population of about 18,000 spread over five southern African countries. Their close relatives, the northern white rhino C. s. cotton subspecies survives in only two individuals, a mother and daughter living under constant guard in Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The nineteen males and eleven females will reestablish a rhino population in Akagera after the park was nearly destroyed in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The African Parks organization helped reestablish the park.  It reports that not a single high-value animal has been poached in eleven years.  The park has become a refuge for many re-located animals including lions and black rhinos. Akagera has a variety of habitats and is very secure according to the park's manager, Ladis Ndahiriwe.  One of the conservationists involved in the transcontinental relocation project says the rhinos are doing well in the new (old) home, calmly moving together and foraging.  A dedicated team of rhino rangers will monitor their progress.  Community support is high and very important for these rhinos continued success in Akagera.