It also completely enclaves the country Lesotho. It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. African Parks currently manages 22 parks across 12 countries, including Malawi, Rwanda and the DRC, all offering potential new homes.South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is the southernmost country in Africa. The rest of the rhinos will be moved to other countries. But 2,000 rhinos in open systems is a lot better than 2,000 rhinos in a semi-captive operation.” It would be absolutely naive of us to say we’ll do this without incurring any losses or risks. “We totally understand the risks associated with this project. “There is a worry about moving rhinos to areas where they will be poached, not just in South Africa,” Jooste says. In 2022, 124 rhinos were killed in Kruger National Park alone. The translocation process is expected to start early next year, with a large portion to remain in South Africa.Īlmost 10,000 rhinos have been lost to poaching in South Africa since 2007. “We know the big arrow that rhinos have on their backs, so security is a massive undertaking, with rangers on the ground 24/7,” Jooste says. “Yet at least 551 rhinos were poached in Africa in 2022.” 2,000 rhinos in open systems is a lot better than 2,000 rhinos in a semi-captive operation Donovan Joost, rhino project managerĪfrican Parks estimate that maintaining the farm – including food, animal health, staff and security – will cost approximately 75m rand (£3.2m) a year. “Across the continent, poaching pressure generally declined from 2015 onwards,” Knight says. Their numbers increased to 16,803, up 5.6% from 2021 to 2022, he adds. “Numbers of southern white rhino across Africa are now going up,” says Mike Knight, chair of the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group. Southern white rhinos came close to extinction in the late 1800s, with populations wiped out by colonial hunters. It’s a massive undertaking for conservation, but the end vision is a massive win.”Ī white rhino cow and calf. They have massive ecological value, the ability to maintain and shape landscapes … as well as economic value, for tourism, and community value. How big a deal for conservation is 2,000 rhinos? “The opportunity is endless. It would have been detrimental to the species, because you’re not sure what would happen to this 15% of the population.”Īfter securing emergency funding from donors, African Parks bought the farm, equipment, rhinos and other animals (including 213 buffaloes, 11 giraffes, seven zebra, five hippos, plus sheep and goats) for an undisclosed sum, with a plan to phase out active breeding and translocate all 2,000 captive-bred rhinos and their future offspring (estimated to be 100 a year) to protected areas across Africa over the next 10 years, helping to secure the long-term future of the species. “The vulnerability of these rhinos would’ve increased tenfold. “Their future was unsure,” says Jooste, African Parks’ rhino rewilding project manager, who is overseeing the project. With no bids received, the rhinos faced a serious threat of poaching and fragmentation. Feeding the rhinos as part of the rewilding process.
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