70 Southern White Rhino Translocated to Akagera National Park
Seventy Southern White Rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) were the most recent batch of animal passengers to alight a Boeing 747 from South Africa. They stepped onto the airport runway in Kigali, Rwanda. In a unique success story for the sanctioning of illegal horn trade under international law, the majestic creatures are the second cohort of white rhinos in Rwanda to find sanctuary in Akagera National Park since 2021. This further cements the future of white rhinos in Rwanda. These rhinos came from an exploitative captive breeding farm. Their horns were routinely trimmed and sold on the black market.
The rhinos’ journey began with a 3,400 km trip from Munyora to King Shaka Airport in Durban. They then boarded an aircraft to Kigali. This translocation of white rhinos in Rwanda will have significant implications for the African rhino population. It impacts the long-term survival of white rhinos in Rwanda. It also establishes a new, geographically separate population. This safeguards the species against catastrophic events like disease outbreaks or intense poaching pressure in their southern African stronghold.
Why This Move Matters for Rwanda, Wildlife, and You
Despite the increase in rhino numbers throughout the continent, poaching continues to pose a threat to their existence. The 2022 “State of the Rhino” reported that in Africa one white rhino is killed every 15 hours.
As both herbivores and part of The Big Five, rhinos play a significant role in forest establishment. They ingest seeds and spread them across the ground in their dung. This shapes the grassland structure and promotes biodiversity. It improves conditions for white rhinos in Rwanda.
With only 17,464 left globally, the white rhino may be ‘Near-Threatened,’ but it remains further from extinction than its darker counterparts. Once abundant across Africa’s grasslands, relentless hunting and brutal poaching for their horns pushed them to the brink of extinction by the late 19th century. Their miraculous rediscovery in 1895 in South Africa sparked a surge in conservation efforts. This has pulled them from near extinction to a current “Near Threatened.”
The objective of this translocation White Rhinos in Rwanda is to support the growth of the white rhino population. It also aims to provide a safe and stable environment where they can reproduce. The success of the 2021 translocation, along with widespread conservation efforts, makes Rwanda the perfect haven for the rescued rhino tribe.
The successful establishment of this population offers a blueprint for future rewilding initiatives. The white rhinos of Akagera are not just survivors. They are pioneers, heralding a future for white rhinos in Rwanda and beyond.
