An extensive logistical undertaking such as hasn’t been seen before, and the details of which are unclear at this stage, will be required to relocate thousands of rhinos from South Africa to safer conservation areas across the rest of the continent.
This was revealed with the sale of the world’s largest captive breeding farm, Platinum Rhino, to a non-government organisation (NGO), African Parks, which said its goal is to rescue the critically endangered species by transporting rhinos to safe havens.
Platinum Rhino, which was being run by 81-year-old South African conservationist John Hume, was put up for auction due to financial stress in April of this year.
"African Parks had no intention of being the owner of a captive rhino breeding operation with 2 000 rhinos,” African Parks CEO Peter Fernhead said.
“We fully recognise the moral imperative of finding a solution for these animals so that they can once again play their integral role in fully functioning ecosystems.”
He described the scale of the undertaking as "simply enormous, and therefore daunting," but added that "it is equally one of the most exciting and globally strategic conservation opportunities."
African Parks is experienced in effectively managing protected areas and has carried out wildlife translocations "at scale”, the conservation NGO said.
Rhino relocation has included reintroducing rhinos to Rwanda, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The NGO manages 22 protected areas across Africa.
Poachers killed 231 rhinos in the first six months of the year compared to 259 in the same period last year, according to South African officials, representing an 11% decrease nationwide.
South Africa has 80% of the world’s rhino population.
