Malawi: African Parks reintroduced 17 black rhinos to Liwonde National Park!

African Parks, a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities, has re-introduced 17 endangered black rhinos into Liwonde National Park in Malawi. The animals were all succesfully released into the National Park on 12 Novmber 2019. The 17 rhinos were translocated from Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, into Liwonde National Park. Carried out in conjunction with World Wildlife Fund South Africa, Malawi's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, this is one of the largest international black rhino translocations to date.
African Parks is also moving two of Liwonde National Park's existing rhinos to Majete Wildlife Reserve, and another rhino from Majete to Liwonde, to improve genetic diversity and create a healthy population of rhinos for Malawi.

Black rhino after release in plains of Liwonde National Park, Malawi
© African Parks/Kelsey Green

• In 2015, African Parks assumed management of Liwonde National Park, in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).
• In 2016/17, a total of 336 elephants were moved from Liwonde National Park to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Malawi to help restore that reserve.
• In 2017, seven cheetah, the first to return to Malawi in 20 years, were reintroduced to Liwonde National Park and the population has already doubled with the birth of eight cubs.
• In 2018, 10 lion were reintroduced to Liwonde National Park from Majete Wildlife Reserve and South Africa after they were last seen in the park 10 years ago.