Moving African rhinos: what it takes to translocate an endangered species
For rhino specialists, translocation has been one of the most important tools in the conservation box of tricks.
theconversation.com
Rhino translocations have become a critical tool in the arsenal for the protection of these endangered animals. Recently, 30 white rhinos were flown into Rwanda from South Africa and introduced into the Akagera National Park, in what was the single largest rhino translocation. It was carried out through a collaboration between the Rwanda Development Board, African Parks and tourism agency, andBeyond, and the South African private reserve, with funding provided by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
But moving rhinos to new landscapes and countries is complicated and expensive. Mike Knight, Chair of the African Rhino Specialist Group at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has been involved in many translocations for over 20 years. He spoke to Moina Spooner, from The Conversation Africa, about what it takes.
How many white rhinos are there in Africa? And why are they so special?
Well, let’s start off with why rhinos are so special.Rhinos play a fundamental role in transforming the natural environment. If you take white rhinos out of the system, it changes.
