Sixteen southern white rhino have been safely translocated to Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This subspecies’ introduction to the Garamba Complex (GC) gives hope that it will adapt and fulfil the same role as the now-extinct northern white rhino.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (12 June 2023) – In a remarkable endeavour to restore ecological balance in one of Africa’s oldest national parks, Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has welcomed 16 southern white rhinos. These magnificent creatures were translocated from the &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa, made possible through a collaborative effort involving the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), African Parks, and &Beyond.
The translocation was generously sponsored by the Barrick Gold Corporation, who will continue to support the project in the years to come.
This translocation is part of a broader conservation initiative within the Garamba Complex (GC) to restore the full diversity of megaherbivores in the park. Since the last northern white rhino was poached in 2006, the subspecies have been functionally extinct in the area. By introducing southern white rhinos, Garamba National Park will significantly contribute to the wildlife economy of the DRC, ensuring that the conservation of the country’s natural landscapes generates long-term benefits for local communities and all Congolese.
Expressing his gratitude, Mr Milan Ngangay Yves, the Director General of ICCN, remarked, “The return of white rhinos to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a testament to our country’s commitment to biodiversity conservation. As Garamba is poised to become a globally important sanctuary for megaherbivores, introducing southern white rhino to the country is an important step in advancing our contribution to rhino conservation in Africa. We are grateful to our conservation partners, who play a significant role in supporting us in fulfilling our objectives and promoting sustainable, transformational, and equitable socio-economic growth.”
The 16 rhinos were sourced from &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, specifically from the Mun-Ya-Wana Conservancy. They were airlifted in two separate operations from South Africa to Barrick’s Kibali Mine airstrip in northeastern DRC and then transported by truck to Garamba National Park. This reintroduction is part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure the long-term conservation of white rhinos in Africa by expanding their range and establishing new breeding populations in secure areas.
The acclimatization process in Garamba will be overseen by a team of professionals and a qualified veterinarian.
Reflecting on the significance of this translocation, Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks, emphasized the need for proactive conservation efforts, saying, “Efforts to save the northern white rhino were a case of ‘too little too late’ and should never be allowed to happen again. Now that Garamba is a safe location with proper protection in place, this reintroduction marks the beginning of a process where southern white rhinos, as the closest genetic alternative, can fulfill the role of the northern white rhino in the landscape. We are thankful to our partners who made this translocation possible: the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for their visionary conservation leadership, the local communities for their support and eagerness to protect this iconic species, Barrick Gold Corporation for funding the project and providing technical support, and &Beyond for providing the founder population of rhinos.”
Initially believed to be extinct in the late 19th century, a small population of fewer than one hundred southern white rhinos was discovered in KwaZulu Natal in 1895. Through dedicated conservation efforts spanning a century, the population has grown significantly, with an estimated 19,600 to 21,000 individuals now residing in protected areas and private game reserves, primarily within South Africa. Although classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, recent years have seen a resurgence in poaching, resulting in a decline in the white rhino population. The proactive move to Garamba aims to repopulate areas where rhinos have become locally extinct and establish robust populations in secure locations, ensuring the long-term survival of the species in the DRC.
Dale Wepener, &Beyond South Africa Conservation Manager, expressed the critical role of conservation translocations in safeguarding endangered species like the rhino, stating, “As &Beyond, our long-term vision is to protect black and white rhinos. Creating new habitats and ranges is something that &Beyond has been doing for a while, especially through our history of moving rhinos from Phinda to other parts of Southern Africa. We believe that this latest conservation translocation and introduction is a way of protecting the species by creating a new, safe, and secure habitat.”
Mark Bristow, President, and CEO of Barrick Gold Corporation emphasized their commitment to biodiversity and nature conservation, saying, “Sponsorship of this translocation stems from our 10-year partnership with African Parks and investment in the conservation of Garamba National Park. Biodiversity underpins many ecosystem services on which our mines and their surrounding communities depend. Being able to play a role in protecting biodiversity and preventing nature loss is central to what we do. We aim to continue working with our partners to achieve economic, socio-political, and ecological sustainability.”
In the coming years, additional rhinos will be translocated to Garamba National Park to establish a viable breeding population. This strategic endeavour holds promise for the long-term viability of the species in the DRC and signifies a positive step towards preserving Africa’s natural heritage.
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