As part of a Biodiversity agreement, 6 Rhinos have been sent to Chad in the hopes of saving the species and reintroducing it into the African country.
Last week Friday, the 4th of May, 6 Black Rhinos landed in Chad. The rhinos were sent as part of a Biodiversity agreement with the country to reintroduce the lost species back onto protected lands.
The six black rhino were sent from the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. They were transported by cargo plane and the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa, was present as they were loaded and took off.
“By establishing a viable and secure rhino population in Chad, we are contributing to the expansion of the rhino population in Africa and the survival of a species that has faced high levels of poaching for the past decade,” Molewa said.
“In line with our long-term strategy, South Africa intends to increase numbers of wildlife across Africa by relocating groups of rhino and other animals to new protected areas.”
This isn’t the first time South African wildlife has been relocated. South African National Parks (SANParks) has already translocated black rhino to Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Rwanda. White Rhinos have also been moved to Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Mozambique. Kenya and Swaziland have also received small groups of rhino.
“We are all too aware that the translocation of these animals is taking place against a tragic backdrop, as poaching and the illicit wildlife trade continues to wreak havoc on Africa’s biological assets,” Molewa said.
“Translocation is but one of the interventions being implemented by South Africa as part of the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros Approach.
“Our approach includes compulsory interventions, interventions to increase rhino numbers, long-term sustainability interventions and game-changing interventions.”
These measures not only boost the biodiversity of the species but they ensure a larger scale of protection. When ever readers ask what the Government is doing to save rhinos, this is one of the methods they are using to help save the Rhino of South Africa.
by 