In a significant conservation effort, South Africa has successfully translocated 20 black rhinos from KwaZulu-Natal to Botswana. The operation, which took place in early September, involved two 36-hour road trips to a remote and secure location. The World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) South Africa's Black Rhino Range Expansion Program (BRREP) led the initiative, which aims to establish a new population of black rhinos in Botswana.
The translocation effectively doubles Botswana's black rhino population, which had dwindled to about 25 individuals due to years of poaching pressure, particularly in the Okavango Delta region. The 20 rhinos were captured in KwaZulu-Natal in early June and held in a boma during a quarantine period before being transported to their new home. According to BRREP leader Jeff Cooke, all 20 animals have arrived safely and are settling in well.
This is only the second cross-border translocation undertaken by BRREP, with the first taking place in 2019 when rhinos were moved to Liwonde National Park in Malawi. Since 2003, the programme has moved groups of up to 20 rhinos to suitable areas to help re-establish populations. The programme targets areas of about 20,000 hectares or more to provide sufficient space for populations to grow.
Finding areas large enough with suitable habitat for black rhinos is becoming increasingly difficult, prompting the programme to expand its operations across national borders. Cooke emphasized that these newly translocated populations serve as incubators for the broader continental species recovery programme and could support further local range expansion in other black rhino range states.
WWF South Africa CEO Dr. Morne du Plessis expressed gratitude to the South African and Botswanan governments, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, funding and donor partners, and the recipient site owners for their role in the operation. The initiative demonstrates the value of collaboration and coordinated conservation efforts in supporting black rhino population recovery.
The translocation of black rhinos to Botswana is a significant step towards conserving the species. The International Rhino Foundation estimates that the population in Botswana has been significantly bolstered by this operation. The WWF's BRREP programme continues to work towards expanding the range of black rhinos in Africa.
The conservation effort highlights the importance of cross-border collaboration in protecting endangered species. The successful translocation of the 20 black rhinos to Botswana serves as a model for future conservation initiatives. Key conservation partners are continuing to monitor the rhinos' progress in their new habitat.
Key points
- The translocation doubles Botswana's black rhino population.
- The operation was led by the World Wildlife Fund's South Africa's Black Rhino Range Expansion Program.
- The programme targets areas of about 20,000 hectares or more to provide sufficient space for populations to grow.
