Southern White Rhino Group Successfully Translocated

Another group of southern white rhino was successfully translocated to a private game reserve in northern South Africa.

The translocation was implemented as a joint initiative between African Parks, the Wildlife Emergency Fund, and the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa, and was the group’s second successful translocation. The previous translocation was a major success for all the parties involved, and the second translocation was made possible thanks to a combined effort of funding by the Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa, Wildlife Emergency Fund and the recipient reserve.

An estimated 2000 southern white rhino live together in a single location and being concentrated in one area poses a significant risk to the species if disease spreads or if a coordinated poaching attack were to occur.

This relocation forms part of African Parks’ Rhino Rewild initiative, an ambitious plan to rewild 2,000 southern white rhino into secure protected areas across Africa over the next 10 years. Key funders of Rhino Rewild include the Rob Walton Foundation and the Pershing Square Foundation.

Every effort was made to protect the well-being of each animal throughout the operation. The rhino now have the freedom to roam, graze, and carry out their natural behaviours in a secure and thriving ecosystem.

To aid in the long-term success of this translocation, the rhino will be monitored and protected through intensive security measures employing the latest anti-poaching technology. The undisclosed private reserve provides the necessary space for rhinos and other species. It has a successful track record of rewilding key species like the white rhino and is an ideal location for additional wildlife introductions.

White rhino are under extreme pressure due to poaching and habitat loss and require well-protected natural landscapes to thrive. In the 1930s, southern white rhinos were on the brink of extinction, with only 30 to 40 individuals remaining. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, their population rebounded to approximately 21,000 by 2012.

However, the surge in poaching over the past decade has reduced their numbers to around 17,500. White rhinos play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As mega-herbivores, they shape savannah landscapes, which store approximately 30% of the world’s terrestrial carbon.

Project stakeholders employ a range of rhino conservation initiatives, from expanding rhino rangelands to forging partnerships with local communities and leveraging cutting-edge technology to help protect rhino from poaching – all collaborating to ensure a future where rhinos can thrive.

Donovan Jooste, Project Manager, African Parks’ Rhino Rewild Initiative said “The success of Rhino Rewild is about collaboration and working with partners who share the vision of creating safe wild spaces and managing them effectively, in which wildlife, and in this case, rhino, can thrive. This private reserve fits that profile where we know these rhino will be protected and can contribute to impactful conservation within South Africa that also benefits local communities.”

Dereck Milburn, Director of the Wildlife Emergency Fund said “To see another successful translocation come to fruition is a thrilling next chapter in our ongoing partnership with African Parks. We are committed to seeing southern white rhino populations established across Africa to secure the future of this iconic animal.”

Taryn Gillson, Global Humane Regional Director – Africa said “The safe translocation of these rhinos marks another vital step in restoring wild populations while working to ensure the welfare of these extraordinary animals. I commend the reserve for their remarkable commitment to expanding protected land to accommodate additional white rhinos. This project represents a bold and inspiring contribution to addressing one of the most pressing conservation challenges of our time: creating space for species to survive and flourish. We are deeply grateful all project partners and to the Busch Gardens Conservation Fund for their generous support, which made this operation possible and continues to help us safeguard the future of Africa’s iconic wildlife.”

Rob Yordi, Executive Director of the SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund said ”The Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is proud to support the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa and its partners in this important effort supporting rhino conservation. Being on the ground and seeing firsthand the professionalism of the teams involved, the focus on the welfare of each rhino, and the dedication to the safe translocation of the 20 rhinos to new reserves, reinforces our commitment to important conservation initiatives in South Africa. A job well done GH-CFA!”