Kenya’s wildlife agency is orchestrating the relocation of 21 rare and endangered black rhinos from their current sanctuaries due to a notable surge in population, leading to overcrowding.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced on Tuesday that three rhinos would be moved from Nairobi National Park, while others would be relocated from Ol Pejeta and Lewa conservancies.
Primarily consisting of the eastern black rhino subspecies, these majestic creatures are finding a new home in a recently established sanctuary at the Loisaba Conservancy in northern Kenya.
Loisaba Conservancy highlighted the historic nature of this relocation, marking the return of rhinos to the region after the species faced extinction due to poaching 50 years ago.
The translocation involves rhinos from Nairobi National Park, Ol Pejeta, and Lewa conservancies.
This operation signifies a triumph in Kenya’s ongoing efforts to preserve black rhinos, a species that teetered on the brink of extinction just three decades ago. Alfred Mutua, Kenya’s Tourism Minister, shared the encouraging news, stating that the black rhino population has surged from slightly over 200 in 1994 to just over 1,000.
“This is very good news, and it’s because of our conservation efforts,” Mutua expressed. “We’ve reversed the heavy poaching that used to be there, we’ve reversed the abuse of the areas where the animals were living so that we could properly conserve them.”