{"id":38258,"date":"2024-05-16T16:31:42","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T14:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/96dcfb19-2d9b-4651-bde3-03406ee73dd8"},"modified":"2024-05-16T17:35:45","modified_gmt":"2024-05-16T15:35:45","slug":"2000-rhinos-to-be-translocated-in-africa-in-one-of-the-most-audacious-conservation-efforts-of-modern-times","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/2000-rhinos-to-be-translocated-in-africa-in-one-of-the-most-audacious-conservation-efforts-of-modern-times\/","title":{"rendered":"2,000 rhinos to be translocated in Africa in \u201cone of the most audacious conservation efforts of modern times\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 10-year project gets underway with the translocation of 40 southern white rhinos in South Africa. <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 16 May 2024 at 14:31 PM<\/p>

\n\n

A massive 10-year mission to translocate more than 2,000 captive-bred southern white rhinos<\/a> to new lives in the wild across Africa has begun. <\/p>

40 animals \u2013 16 male and 24 females \u2013 made the 700-kilometre, 14-hour journey from Rhino Rewild, site of the former Platinum\u00a0Rhino farm, in South Africa\u2019s North West province to their new home at\u00a0Munywana\u00a0Conservancy, a 74,000-acre private game\u00a0reserve\u00a0in Northern KwaZulu Natal. <\/p>

\u201cIt is a massive privilege to be part\u00a0of such a conservation initiative,\u201d says Donovan Jooste, wildlife NGO African Parks\u2019 Rhino Rewilding<\/a> Project Manager, who is overseeing the 2,000+ rhinos. \u201cThe opportunity we have to de-risk a species at scale is incredibly exciting.\u201d<\/p>

The majority of\u00a0southern white rhinos\u00a0live in just four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Rhinos for sale<\/h2>
In September 2023,\u00a0 African Parks<\/a> bought\u00a0Platinum\u00a0Rhino, the world\u2019s largest private captive\u00a0rhino\u00a0breeding operation. The 7,800-hectare property, 100 miles south-east of Johannesburg, has since been renamed Rhino Rewild. Platinum\u00a0Rhino\u2019s former owner, South African multimillionaire John Hume, started breeding rhinos in 1992 with around 200 animals, but after years of financial difficulties and facing bankruptcy, due to the farm\u2019s running costs, Hume put the farm up for auction in April, 2023, with a starting bid set at $10 million (\u00a38m).\u00a0<\/p>
The 2,000 rhinos – more than are currently found in any single wild location in Africa – represent around 12-15% of the continent\u2019s remaining white rhino population. With no offers received, the rhinos faced an uncertain future, with the likelihood of poaching and fragmentation.\u00a0<\/p>
After securing emergency funding from donors, African Parks stepped in to buy the farm, equipment, and\u00a02,000 rhinos, along with\u00a0213 buffaloes, 11 giraffes, seven zebra, five hippos, plus sheep and goats,\u00a0for an undisclosed sum. (Hume retained a stockpile of valuable rhino horn, which wasn\u2019t included in the sale.)\u00a0<\/p>
The 10-year mission to translocate more than 2,000 captive-bred southern white rhinos has begun with the transportation of 40 animals to Munywana\u00a0Conservancy. Credit: Brent Stirton Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Huge \u201cfirst-of-its-kind\u201d\u00a0rewilding project to bring back lost species in South Africa<\/a><\/li>
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Australian-born cheetah released in Africa for the first time ever<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
How to translate 2,000 rhinos <\/h2>
The NGO\u2019s plan is to phase out active breeding and\u00a0translocate all\u00a0the rhinos and any future offspring over the next decade\u00a0to protected areas across Africa,\u00a0helping to secure the species\u2019 long-term\u00a0future by\u00a0bolstering existing populations in established protected areas and creating new breeding strongholds in other protected areas where there are currently no rhinos.\u00a0<\/p>
The current target is to move around 300 rhino per year, starting with Munywana Conservancy, which has a positive track record for wildlife protection. <\/p>
Rhinos were loaded into individual crates and transported by truck. \u201cThe logistics around a translocation, such as this one, are complicated,\u201d says Jooste. “Security is also vital, ensuring that everything is done to ensure the security of not only the rhino, but all the people involved as well.”<\/p>
$\"Capture$
Capture team helps an anaesthetised rhino towards its crate. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Phase one: Munywana<\/h2>
Southern white rhinos were previously present in the area around Munywana. Their presence in the conservancy is expected to make a significant impact. <\/p>
\u201cRhinos perform an important ecological function in the environment as a large grazing herbivore,\u201d says Dale Wepener, Munywana\u2019s Warden and Conservation Manager. <\/p>
“They also form an important injection of genetics to the current herd. The increased tourism value they will bring and the exposure the conservancy and the communities will get as a result of being part of this rewilding project is also very valuable.\u201d<\/p>
The current target is to move around 300 rhinos a year. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
De-risking a species <\/h2>
Prior to the first translocation, which was supported by\u00a0WeWild\u00a0Africa\u00a0(sister NGO of The\u00a0Aspinall\u00a0Foundation),\u00a0rhino numbers at Rhino Rewild had already increased well above 2,000, due to around 20-30 births. By the end of the estimated 10-year project, the total number of rhinos relocated is expected to be in the region of 3,000, if the current reproduction rate continues. <\/p>
There\u2019s still a long way to go but spreading the animals across African locations will provide a major boost for the species. \u201cThe protection of rhino is far more than just looking after rhino; other species that occur in the protected areas will benefit from the protection,\u201d explains Jooste. \u201cThis will lead to an increase in diversity and result in much healthier ecosystems.\u00a0<\/p>
\u201cThese rhino are more than just rhino, they\u2019re an opportunity: an opportunity to de-risk a species, an opportunity to increase biodiversity, an opportunity to strengthen partnerships through conservation,\u201d he continues. <\/p>
\u201cIt\u2019s one of the biggest and most audacious conservation efforts of modern times, working to ensure that we do the best for a species before it\u2019s too late. We\u2019ve learnt valuable lessons from the northern white rhino, and we now have an amazing opportunity to not be in the same position with the southern white rhino. It\u2019s a conservation initiative that is going to save white rhino, ensuring that the species is secure. That\u2019s our vision.\u201d<\/p>
$\"Rhino$
A rhino being released into a boma (enclosure) as part of habituation in Munywana Conservancy. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
10-year move: the next phase<\/h2>
After Munywana, the rest of Rhino Rewild\u2019s rhinos will be transported to other parts of South Africa and to other African countries, with other moves expected in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>
African Parks currently manages 22 parks across 12 countries, including Mozambique, Rwanda, Chad and Zimbabwe, which offer plenty of potential rhino habitat.\u00a0It will cost\u00a0around $1500 (\u00a31237) to move each animal within South Africa and around $5000 (\u00a34123) per animal within the\u00a0Southern African Development Community\u00a0(SADC) region, rising to approximately $50,000 (\u00a341,227) per animal for translocations to central Africa, which require aerial transport.<\/p>
Southern white rhino were brought to the brink of extinction in the late 1800s, after populations were decimated by colonial hunters. Numbers of southern white rhino across Africa are now steadily increasing. But poaching remains a major threat, due to rhinos\u2019 extremely valuable horns, which are used in the traditional medicine industry in Asia, despite having no medicinal properties. Around 10,000 rhinos have been killed by poachers in South Africa since 2007. In 2022, 124 rhinos were killed in Kruger National Park alone.<\/p>
$\"Thokozani$
Thokozani Mlambo, Chairperson of the Makhasa Trust welcoming the 40 rhinos. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Translocations are seen as necessary conservation processes but there are risks involved.\u00a0In 2018, six black rhinos were translocated from South Africa to Zakouma National Park in Chad but four died shortly after they were released, due to lower nutrition levels in their new home\u2019s vegetation. <\/p>
\u201cA project such as this overall rewilding effort is not without risk,\u201d admits Jooste. \u201cWe realise we don\u2019t have all the answers and that there\u2019s still room to learn a lot. <\/p>
“With the experience African Parks has in translocations, as well as understanding what it takes to manage protected areas well, it\u2019s exciting to be able to walk this path with the people that have dedicated their lives to conservation. It\u2019s even more exciting to turn this into a massive success, learning and adapting as we move forward with our vision.\u201d<\/p>
$\"2000$
It will cost\u00a0around $1,500 (\u00a31,237) to move each animal within South Africa, rising to approximately $50,000 (\u00a341,227) per animal for translocations to central Africa, which require aerial transport. Credit: Brent Stirton Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Gallery: rhino translocation in action<\/h2>
$\"Rhinos$
Rhinos on the Rhino Farm being prepared for loading for transfer. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"Anesthetized$
Anaesthetised rhino being monitored, ear notched and fitted with monitoring device before transport. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"Capture$
Capture team gently leading anaesthetised rhino to crate for transport. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"Rhino$
Rhino being led to crate for loading. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"40$
40 rhinos being loaded into crates for translocation to Munywana Conservancy. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"Rhino$
Rhino being walked into a crate for transport. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"Rhino$
Rhino in its crate before being released. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"Crates$
Crates with rhinos being lifted onto trucks for transport. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"40$
40 crates for 40 rhinos being loaded onto trucks to be driven to Munywana Conservancy. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"Trucks$
Trucks with 40 rhinos in crates arriving at the Munywana Conservancy. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"Rhino$
Rhino being released into boma (enclosure) in Munywana Conservancy. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"Thokozani$
Thokozani Mlambo, Chairperson of the Makhasa Trust welcoming the 40 donated rhino. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
$\"Rhino$
Rhino after being released with a monitor to help protect it. Credit: Marcus Westberg Large<\/figcaption><\/figure>
You may also be interested in:<\/strong><\/p>
Rhino guide: how to identify, where to see and why they’re endangered<\/a><\/li>
Why rhinos have horns<\/a><\/li>
Rhino gallery: 11 stunning photos<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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