A project to release more than 2,000 white rhinos in South Africa

more than 2000 white rhinoIt is a number that represents close to fifteen% Of the total number of this animal, it will be released within the next ten years in Africa, as reported by the NGO African Parks, after purchasing farm land in the northwestern province of the country. South Africa.

“African Parks had no intention of owning a captive rhino breeding operation 2000 Rhino. “We are fully aware of the moral imperative to find a solution for these animals, so that they can once again play their integral role in fully functioning ecosystems,” said the NGO’s director, Peter Veranheide.

“The scale of this task is simply enormous, and therefore monumental. However, it is also one of the most exciting and strategic conservation opportunities globally,” he said, before emphasizing that the NGO “will work with many governments, funding partners and conservation organizations committed to making This vision is a reality.”

The organization, which manages 22 protected areas in cooperation with twelve African governments, confirmed that all rhinos are located in “Platinum Rhino”, a property owned by the company 7,800 hectares in the aforementioned South African province. “Platinum Rhino” was put up for auction in April 2023 due to its financial problems, despite the lack of bids, which prompted African Parks to take responsibility after requests from several people and due to its experience in transporting rhinos to Rwanda, Malawi and the Democratic Republic. Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

For her part, South Africa’s Minister of Forests, Fisheries and Environment, Barbara Creasy, praised “Important agreementwhich “provides a solution for the conservation of rhinos currently in captivity.”

In this way, Cressy noted that the South African authorities “are ready to assist African Parks and other partners with technical and scientific advice in order to develop a conservation solution that involves moving the animals for a period of time to appropriate parks and communities.” Conservation sites in South Africa and other parts of the African continent.

The white rhinoceros is found under Big pressureEspecially in South Africa because Overfishing. The species consists of two subspecies, the southern white rhino and the northern white rhino, and is practically extinct, with only two sterile females remaining in captivity in Kenya.

In the case of the southern white rhino, the subspecies reached its lowest number of specimens in the 1930s, with only 30 to 40 animals, although conservation measures allowed its population to increase to 20,000 in 2012, a number that has been reduced. To the current 13,000 due to fishing.

(Information from Europe Press)