About 2,000 Southern white rhinoceros currently confined at Platinum Rhino – the world’s largest rhinos farm are set to be freed, a conservation non-profit organisation African Parks has stated.
The activities of poachers has drastically reduced the population of Southern white rhinos in the region.
Following its purchase of the 7,800-hectare (19,274-acre) rhino-breeding farm in South Africa’s North West province, the NGO made the announcement.
The NGO is running a 10 year rewilding project – which is one of the largest rewilding projects on the continent.
The farm currently holds 2,000 Southern white rhinos.
“African Parks has purchased the world’s largest captive rhino breeding operation in a bid to rescue and rewild the rhino to safe and well-managed protected areas across Africa,” the organisation said in a statement on Monday.
The organisation also plans to end rhino-breeding activities at the farm in its plan to secure the future of the endangered species by protecting them from poaching.
African Parks secured emergency funding to buy the financially struggling rhino farm after its owner, John Hume, put it up for sale in April.
About 12 governments work in conjunction with the organisation to run 22 protected wildlife areas across Africa.
