Restoration of Rhinos back to nature
(Rwanda’s Akagera National Park)
Rhino relocation in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park is an important aspect of the Rhino Rewild initiative, a collaborative effort involving African Parks, the Rwanda Development Board, and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
More than 50 black rhinos originally thrived in Akagera’s savannahs, which are considered ideal for black rhinos, but their numbers greatly reduced owing to massive poaching, and slaughters by the refugees after the Rwandan civil war, and the last rhino sighting was reported in 2007.
In 2010, African Parks in collaboration with Rwanda Development Board took over management of the park, conservation efforts, park restoration was emphasized which has led to the flourishing condition and thriving of several wildlife species in the park.
In 2017, the first wildlife relocation was a success when 18 black eastern rhinos were introduced to the park from south Africa. This was a recognised achievement after 10 years of their extermination. This relocation followed the relocation of two male lions into the park.
In 2019, five critically endangered eastern black rhinoceros from zoos and national parks in three European nations were transferred to Rwanda’s Akagera National Park.
The three females and two male eastern black rhinos were brought from the Safari Park Dvur Králové in the Czech Republic, Flamingo Land in Britain and Ree Park Safari in Denmark. The transfer journey began from the Czech Republic on June 23 following months of preparation at Safari Park Dvur Králové. Protective measures were taken to minimize stress and ensure their well-being throughout the translocation process. They were flown to Kigali before being transferred by truck to Akagera National Park. while at the park, they were secured in bomas for a few weeks and later released into the wild.
This represented a significant milestone, as it was the inaugural occasion that Europe undertook a large-scale initiative to return rhinos to Africa.
The black rhino species are considered endangered as they are considered to be at the verge of extinction with about only 1000 remaining in the wild in the whole world.
In the greatest rhino translocation in Rwanda’s history, 30 southern white rhinos were formally welcomed to Akagera National Park as part of a massive rewilding campaign to help ensure these rare species survive and regenerate in the protected wilderness throughout the continent, these gentle giant creatures travelled more than 3,000 kilometers from South Africa.
This narrative is beyond relocation of animals, but a major focus on the concepts of hope, healing, and the return to one’s origins, both for the rhinos and the surrounding communities. With this move, Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savanna park is formally home to the African Big Five animals which include the lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos. Such a kind of restoration is a moment worth cerebration.
The newly relocated rhinos will support the founder group that we brought back thus, helping to restore a healthy eastern black rhino population.
Benefits of rhino translocation to Rwanda.
The relocation of rhinos helps to maintain vegetation health as the rhinos balance the vegetation which also helps other wild inhabitants to thrive.
The rate at which visitors go to the park increases thus the establishment of more accommodations, increased game drives and increased government revenue.
Transferring rhinos from Europe to Africa is a sign of strong global relationship and the desire to conserve wildlife and nature.
Visitors have a chance to involve in rhino tracking as one adventurous activity in addition to the game drives, boat cruses, guided walking safaris and birding thus making the park a key stop for Rwanda safari goers.