More black rhinos return to Mozambique
Ten more black rhinos were translocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in Mozambique.
With 37 rhinos already introduced and thriving, this relocation aims to enhance biodiversity and reinforce the park as Mozambique’s only ‘big five’ national park.
Black rhinos became locally extinct in Mozambique five decades ago.
The rhinos, five male and five female, were donated by South Africa’s provincial conservation entity, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
The first rhinos were successfully translocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in 2022, in the longest road transfer of rhinos ever undertaken.
Partnership and collaboration
This initiative, the result of a partnership between Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks Foundation with financial support from the UK People’s Postcode Lottery, 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.
The broader objective of a long-term co-management agreement between ANAC and Peace Parks, signed in 2015, is to rewild the park to create a healthy ecosystem by introducing viable wildlife populations, attracting tourists and supporting the livelihoods of local communities living around the park.
To date, 2,540 game animals representing 16 different species have been introduced to Zinave.
A park for the people
According to Peace Parks CEO Werner Myburgh the extensive rewilding and restoration programme at Zinave has transformed the landscape and breathed new life into the park for the benefit of both people and nature.
“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,” says Myburgh.
Renewable natural resources of Africa
Black rhino is a living, renewable natural resource. Natural resources are materials or features from the environment that humans and ecosystems rely on for survival and well-being.
Wildlife like black rhino is a living natural resource. That means they provide ongoing benefits when kept alive and thriving. This means their value increases the longer they are preserved. In contrast, the value of non-renewable resources like minerals and fossil fuels depend on consumption patterns.
More black rhinos return to Mozambique
