Adventure Consults joins the rest of the Rhino conservation world to celebrate the arrival of 30 white Rhinos in Akagera National park. The movement of the giant treasures to Rwanda is a historical one since it’s the largest single Rhino translocation ever undertaken.
On 27th November 2021, 30 white rhinos were introduced to Akagera National Park – Rwanda, sourced from andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa. The translocation was carried out through a collaboration between the Rwanda Development Board, African Parks and andBeyond, with funding provided by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
A combination of 19 females and 11 males, a mix of adults and subadults, were driven from Phinda private game reserve in South Africa’s Munyawana conservancy, flown from Durban to Kigali, then transported by road to Akagera National park, completing a 40-hour journey of more than 3,400km.
White rhinos are classified as near threatened with their numbers in decline due to poaching driven by demand for their horns. This historic translocation aims at extending the species’ range and create a secure new breeding stronghold in Rwanda, supporting population growth to ensure the long-term survival of the species.
Akagera National Park is Central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last remaining refuge for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda. The new Rhinos are now settling in the only savannah park in the country, where they will definitely play their part in restoring balance to its ecosystem.
In 2017, 18 eastern black rhinoceros were reintroduced to Akagera, bringing the species back to the park and the country after a 10-year absence. The population was further supplemented by an additional five individuals translocated from European zoos in 2019.
Re-wilding efforts in Akagera National Park has, over the years seen animal populations thrive. It now boasts thriving populations of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo, as well as zebra, giraffe, and hundreds of bird species.
Lions were reintroduced in 2015, and with the addition of two males in 2017 to increase genetic diversity, the population has since quadrupled.
With the arrival of White rhinos, we can proudly say that Rwanda is a strong one-stop Big-five destination.
Check out some of Adventure Consults tailor-made safaris that include visits to Akagera National Park.
About The Author: Jessie Tate
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