Ten additional black rhinos have been successfully translocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in Mozambique to help secure the first founder population of black rhinos since becoming locally extinct 50 years ago.
The rhinos, including five males and five females, were donated by South Africa’s provincial conservation entity, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, in collaboration with Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks Foundation.
The translocation was made possible through funding from the United Kingdom’s People’s Postcode Lottery.
It’s a curious move considering the vast majority of poachers apprehended in the Kruger National Park are either Mozambican or have crossed over into South Africa through the porous fence that separates the two countries.
Biodiversity restored
By reintroducing wildlife to areas where the species once thrived, biodiversity is restored.
The preservation of natural ecosystems is one of the most effective tools in mitigating climate change.
Through the creation of ecosystem ‘carbon sinks’, these ecosystems can increase global carbon uptake by up to 12 times.
With 37 rhinos already introduced and thriving, this initiative aims to enhance biodiversity and reinforce the park as Mozambique’s only ‘big five’ national park, setting a new standard for wildlife conservation and ecological restoration.
Peace Parks Foundation approached Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for a donation of black rhinos to boost the numbers to form a viable breeding population of black rhinos in Mozambique.
An agreement was reached on the 10 rhinos sourced from Ithala Game Reserve and Ezemvelo’s three Black Rhino Range Expansion Project.
The rhinos were initially relocated to Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, where they were housed in specially prepared holding facilities in preparation for the 48-hour journey to Zinave.
‘Conservation success’
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, described this as a significant conservation success.
George commended the Government of Mozambique and its co-management partner, Peace Parks Foundation, on achieving this important milestone, noting that establishing new founder populations is one of many critical interventions to secure the future of these species.
“South Africa’s successes in rhino conservation and the implementation of anti-poaching and anti-trafficking efforts have stabilised its rhino populations, thereby placing the country in a position as a source of rhino for range States in Africa which have either lost many or all of their rhino and wish to re-establish populations or augment current populations, as is the case with this translocation.
“The export and import of these valuable black rhinos have been done in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’s legislation of both countries,” the Minister said.
CITES permits
To ensure successful translocation and compliance with all the required permits, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Management Inspectors (EMIs), together with officials from Border Management Authority (BMA), played a crucial role during the loading and endorsement of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permits at the ports of exit.
During the loading this week, the departmental EMIs ensured that all the allocated microchip numbers, as prescribed in the CITES permits, correspond with those inserted in the live rhino.
The first rhinos were successfully translocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in 2022, in the longest road transfer of rhinos ever undertaken.
This initiative, the result of a partnership between Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks Foundation, marked the beginning of Mozambique’s efforts to rebuild founder white and black rhino populations as part of a national conservation initiative to reintroduce rhinos in the country.
Rhino rewilding
In 2023, Peace Parks received a funding award of £800 000, raised by players of the UK People’s Postcode Lottery towards the translocation of 10 more black rhinos to Zinave, which enabled this critical next phase in rhino rewilding.
“Supporting the rewilding of critically endangered species like the black rhino is at the heart of what we believe in – creating lasting impact for people and planet. I am delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery have been able to support Peace Parks Foundation.
“This historic translocation to Zinave National Park simply wouldn’t have happened without player-raised funding. It’s a powerful example of what we can achieve when we come together across borders to restore nature and protect our shared future,” Managing Director of UK People’s Postcode Lottery Clara Govier said.
How confident are you that the black rhinos will be safe in Mozambique?
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