16 white rhinos flown from South Africa to DR Congo

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Sixteen southern white rhinos have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo after being flown from South Africa, park authorities said on Sunday, in a move aimed at promoting the long-term conservation of the animals' population in Africa.

The white rhinos arrived at Garamba National Park in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday from South Africa’s Phinda Private Game Reserve through a collaborative effort, according to a statement by African Parks, a conservation charity involved in the exercise.

“The return of white rhinos to the Democratic Republic of Congo is a testament to our country’s commitment to biodiversity conservation,” said Milan Yves Ngangay, the director-general of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN).

“As Garamba is poised to become a globally important sanctuary for megaherbivores, introducing the southern white rhino to the country is an important step in advancing our contribution to rhino conservation in Africa,” he added.

The translocation forms part of a larger conservation initiative to replenish the species in the park after the last northern white rhino was poached in 2006.

The rhinos were airlifted in two moves from South Africa to Barrick Gold Corporation’s Kibali Mine airstrip in northeastern DR Congo and then trucked to the park.

Peter Fearnhead, African Parks' chief executive officer, said the reintroduction is the start of a process whereby the southern white rhino as the closest genetic alternative can fulfil the role of the northern white rhino in the landscape.

Initially considered extinct in the late 19th century, a population of fewer than 100 southern white rhinos was discovered in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province in 1895.

Following century-old dedicated conservation efforts, the population increased to between 19,600 and 21,000 residing in protected areas and private game reserves predominantly within South Africa.

But the white rhino population is now estimated at over 15,000 due to poaching.

Dale Wepener, Phinda’s conservation manager, said “conservation translocations have been proven to be a critical tool in securing the survival of endangered species such as the rhino.”