The Rarest Rhinos Travel Back to Africa
Date: 19.12.2009
Four of the world's last known remaining eight northern white rhinos will be relocated from captivity back to the wild on Sunday 20th December 2009, thanks to the collaborative efforts of a consortium of conservation organisations.
"Northern white rhinos are the world's rarest large mammal" said Dr Rob Brett, Africa Regional Director, Fauna & Flora International and member of the IUCN African Rhino Specialist group.
The rhinos will moved from Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya as part of what is being called the 'Last Chance to Survive' project.
"They are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and are thought to be extinct in the wild. Moving them now is a last bid effort to save them and their gene pool from total extinction."
"The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is immensely proud to have received the endorsement of the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group in hosting these animals, giving them a chance to breed at the 11th hour," said Richard Vigne, Chief Executive Officer, Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
"If we are successful, the preservation of their unique locally adapted genetic traits may allow their natural range to be re-stocked in the coming years." Mr Vigne said.
Conservationists believe that by providing the four rhinos with a natural habitat and secure African setting, they will significantly increase their chances of breeding successfully. To date, captive breeding of northern white rhino in zoos has had limited success, with breeding only occurring at Dvůr Králové Zoo. The last calf was born in 2000.
The long-term aim of the translocation is to establish a viable breeding group of locally adapted white rhinos for reintroduction back into secure areas of their original range in eastern Africa. The time frame of such a reintroduction could well be in the region of twenty years or more.
"Together with our partners, we plan to give the remaining individuals with breeding potential their last chance of normal and regular reproduction in a secure location in the wild," said Dana Holečková, Director of Dvůr Králové Zoo.
"The cause for the move is to induce normal social and territorial behaviour that is essential for the rhinos to breed routinely."The reintroduction initiative is being carried out by a partnership of conservation organisations, including Fauna & Flora International, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Dvůr Králové Zoo, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Back to Africa, and the Kenya Wildlife Service.
The rhinos were accompanied by experts, including their keeper Jan Zdarek and veterinarian Dr Jiri Vahala, from Dvůr Králové Zoo, rhino veterinarian Dr Pete Morkel, an expert veterinarian dedicated to rhino translocation, and 'rhino whisperer' Berry White. The rhinos were translocated by road from Dvůr Králové to Prague airport, from where they were flown to Nairobi and driven out to Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
