Rewilding Rhino Conservation Efforts: A New Chapter for Africa's Iconic Species

In a groundbreaking conservation effort, African Parks has taken over a 2,000-hectare farm in 'location', home to 2,000 southern white rhinos. This significant development marks a major step towards protecting these majestic creatures and their habitats.

'We know the big arrow that rhinos have on their backs, so security is a massive undertaking, with rangers on the ground 24/7,' says Donovan Jooste, rhino project manager at African Parks. Despite the challenges, it's a crucial effort to safeguard this iconic species from poaching and fragmentation.

African Parks acquired the farm, equipment, rhinos, and other animals (including buffaloes, giraffes, zebra, hippos, sheep, and goats) with emergency funding from donors. The plan is 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 decade.

This massive undertaking has significant ecological, economic, and community value. Southern white rhinos play a crucial role in maintaining and shaping landscapes, making them vital for conservation efforts. Their numbers have been steadily increasing, with African Parks reporting an estimated 16,803 rhinos across Africa as of 2022, a 5.6% increase from the previous year.

The rewilding process is not without its challenges. 'Their future was unsure,' says Jooste. With no bids received, the rhinos faced a serious threat of poaching and fragmentation. However, with African Parks' expertise and commitment to conservation, the long-term future of this species is now more secure.

'The opportunity is endless,' notes Mike Knight, chair of the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group. 'It would have been detrimental to the species if they had remained in captivity.'

African Parks estimates that maintaining the farm will cost approximately 75 million rand (£3.2m) a year. While this may seem like a significant investment, it's a small price to pay for the long-term conservation of these magnificent creatures.

As Knight adds, 'Numbers of southern white rhino across Africa are now going up.' With African Parks' rewilding project, we can expect to see this trend continue and potentially even accelerate. The end vision is a massive win for conservation efforts in Africa.

For Data Guardian South Africa, the significance of this effort cannot be overstated. By supporting organizations like African Parks, we can help protect Africa's iconic species and their habitats for generations to come.

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