It was a momentous day for wildlife lovers and conservationists around the world.
A total of 16 southern white rhinoceroses, a species that was nearly wiped out by poaching, were released into a vast national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The park, known as Garamba National Park, was once the last refuge of the northern white rhinos, a subspecies that is now on the brink of extinction.
The reintroduction of white rhinos to Garamba National Park is a remarkable achievement that shows the commitment and collaboration of various stakeholders to protect and restore one of Africa's most biodiverse regions.
A historic moment in conservation
LUCA SOLA/AFP via Getty Images
The southern white rhinos were transported from a private reserve in South Africa, where they were bred and prepared for translocation, as per AlJazeera.
The operation was led by the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), African Parks, a conservation NGO that manages Garamba National Park, and Barrick Gold, a Canadian mining firm that sponsored the rhino move.
"The return of white rhinos to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a testament to our country's commitment to biodiversity conservation," said Yves Milan Ngangay, the director general of the ICCN.
The reintroduction of white rhinos to Garamba National Park is part of a larger effort to restore the park's wildlife and ecosystems, which have suffered from decades of conflict, poaching, and insecurity.
Garamba National Park was established in 1938 and is one of Africa's oldest protected areas.
It is home to diverse species such as elephants, giraffes, lions, and chimpanzees.
White rhinos are classified as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated population of 18,000 individuals in the wild, as per Phys.org.
However, they face serious threats from habitat loss and poaching for their horns, which are valued in some Asian markets for their supposed medicinal properties.
The northern white rhino subspecies is particularly endangered, with only two females remaining in captivity in Kenya.
The last male died in 2018, and the last wild northern white rhino was poached in Garamba National Park in 2006.
The southern white rhino subspecies is more numerous and genetically diverse than the northern one and is considered the closest alternative to fill the ecological role of the northern white rhino in Garamba National Park.
The southern white rhinos that were reintroduced to the park have been fitted with GPS collars and ear tags to monitor their movements and health.
They will also be protected by a team of rangers and veterinarians who will ensure their safety and well-being.
"This reintroduction is the start of a process whereby southern white rhino as the closest genetic alternative can fulfill the role of the northern white rhino in the landscape," said Peter Fearnhead, the CEO of African Parks.
More southern white rhinoceroses are expected to be sent to Garamba National Park in the future, as part of a long-term plan to establish a viable population of white rhinos in the DRC.
The hope is that these majestic animals will thrive in their new home and contribute to the conservation of one of Africa's most biodiverse regions.
