"Rhino Rewild": African Parks translocated 120 Southern white rhino to member reserves of the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation (GKEPF)!

African Parks, a conservation NGO that manages 22 protected areas in partnership with 12 governments across Africa, has announced that it has successfully translocated 120 Southern white rhino to member reserves of the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation (GKEPF) in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, South Africa. This translocation is the second move to happen under "Rhino Rewild", an ambitious plan to rewild 2,000 southern white rhino into secure protected areas in Africa over the next 10 years.
The rhino will not be released into the Kruger National Park itself, but into private game reserves along its western boundary, a consensus reached through collaboration, and expert inputs from Kruger National Park and South African National Parks (SANParks) counterparts. This strategic placement to private reserves bordering the Kruger National Park strengthens the rhino metapopulation and lays the groundwork for potential future collaboration as Kruger National Park continues its fight against poaching.

“The rhino will come in dehorned, which is a very effective way to decrease the poaching risk in this landscape. We’re at a point where this risk is well calculated,” says Markus Hofmeyr, wildlife vet and Director of the Rhino Recovery Fund. “This will be the first re-introduction of rhino into this landscape in about 50 years.” [src.]

The Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation (GKEPF), a registered non-profit organisation, was established in 2016 in direct response to the unprecedented rise in rhino poaching in the Greater Kruger. The area is home to the world’s largest wild rhino population and comprises more than 2.5 million hectares of unfenced wilderness. 

African Parks has officially launched the rewilding phase of "Rhino Rewild"!

African Parks, a conservation NGO that manages 22 protected areas in partnership with 12 governments across Africa, has announced that it has officially launched the rewilding phase of "Rhino Rewild", an ambitious plan to rewild 2,000 southern white rhino into secure protected areas in Africa over the next 10 years. The Munywana Conservancy in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, received 40 southern white rhino in support of the conservancy's successful conservation and community efforts. To achieve a successful outcome of this translocation, the animals' body condition and parasite adaptation will be closely monitored as they adjust to their new environment. In addition, the conservancy will implement its intensive security measures to ensure the safety of the 40 dehorned rhino.

The Munywana Conservancy, a collaboration of private and community landowners, is a protected wildlife conservation area in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, spanning 29,866 hectares. The conservancy has a proud history of successful conservation endeavours and groundbreaking research which have been instrumental to the protection of threatened species including rhino, cheetah, pangolin, lion and elephant.

African Parks to release 2,000 southern white rhino into the wild over the next 10 years!

African Parks, a conservation NGO that manages 22 protected areas in partnership with 12 governments across Africa, has announced that it will take over the 7,800 hectare "Platinum Rhino" site near Klerksdorp in South Africa's North West province from wealthy property developer turned conservationist/wildlife rancher/rhino breeder John Hume (81). The world’s largest private captive rhino breeding operation is home to over 2,000 southern white rhino, which is equivalent to 15% of the world's remaining wild population of southern white rhino. According to African Parks, it has one clear objective: to rewild these rhino over the next 10 years to well-managed and secure areas, establishing or supplementing strategic populations, thereby de-risking the future of the species. The breeding programme will be phased out and the project will end once all the rhino are released into the wild. This is one of the largest continent-wide rewilding endeavours to occur for any species.

John Hume's "Patinum Rhino" farm went up for auction on 26 April 2023 due to financial reasons, but did not receive any bids. On 04 August 2023, African Parks CEO Peter Fearnhead confirmed in a statement that his organisation had agreed to take over the farm and and all its rhinos – with the endorsement of the South African Government, which will support African Parks with technical and scientific advice, and the African Rhino Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on the responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas, in partnership with governments and local communities. African Parks manages 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries covering over 20 million hectares in Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Zambia: African Parks takes over the management of Kafue National Park!

The Government of Zambia and 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, have signed a 20 million dollar agreement for the effective management and protection of Kafue National Park. The agreement follows the successful conclusion of a 16-month Priority Support Plan (PSP), initiated in February 2021 by Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and African Parks, to provide technical and financial support for the National Park.
According to African Parks, a total of US$3.6 million was invested into Kafue National Park's infrastructure and operations since the PSP was implemented, including:

• the construction of a new law enforcement centre
• rehabilitation of existing infrastructure at Chunga and Ngoma
• grading of 2000 km of roads
• aerial support to law enforcement operations with both helicopter and fixed wing
• completion of an aerial census for the entire landscape
• the creation of 150 permanent jobs
• US$800 000 in law enforcement salaries, which were reimbursed to the Government of Zambia
  

The new agreement between the Government of Zambia and African Parks provides a full mandate to implement a holistic management plan for Kafue National Park, including a continuation of the work set out in the PSP. Priorities for 2022 include:

• further upgrades of roads to improve visitor access
• development of community facilities and projects
• an upgraded communications network
• operationalisation of the state-of-the-art law enforcement centre.

Kafue National Park, Zambia © Frank Weitzer and African Parks

Kafue National Park is the oldest and largest national park in Zambia, covering an area of about 22,400 km². It is located in in the centre of western Zambia, only a two hours drive from Livingstone. Kafue National Park is home to over 55 different species of mammals including elephants, large predators and 21 species of antelope – the highest diversity of antelope in Africa. Kafue National Park is also designated by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area, with at least 515 bird species recorded. The National Park is named for the Kafue River.
Kafue National Park forms part of the world's largest transfrontier conservation area, the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA). It is situated in the Kavango and Zambezi river basins where the borders of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge. It spans an area of approximately 520 000 km² and includes 36 proclaimed protected areas such as national parks, game reserves, forest reserves, community conservancies and game/wildlife management areas.

The Government of Zambia first partnered with African Parks in 2003 in Liuwa Plain National Park and subsequently in 2008 in Bangweulu Wetlands. Kafue National Park is the 20th park to join African Parks’ portfolio.

Malawi: African Wild Dogs return to Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve!

Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) in cooperation with African Parks and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) has succesfully reintroduced 14 African Wild Dogs from South Africa and Mozambique to Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve*. A pack of eight animals were released into bomas in Liwonde National Park and a pack of six into bomas in Majete Wildlife Reserve, where they will remain for several weeks, allowing them to adjust to the new conditions before being fully released into the wider park areas. Each pack has been fitted with a mix of satellite and radio collars to facilitate the continual monitoring of their location and habitat use and ensure their long-term protection in the parks. According to Cole du Plessis, coordinator of EWT's Wild Dog Range Expansion Project, there have been no stable established packs of African Wild Dogs in Malawi for more than 20 years, possibly since the 1980s. [src.] 

All dogs safely released into their temporary boma to acclimatise after translocation,
Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi © Matt Moon

The African Wild Dogs were sourced from Gorongosa National Park and Karingani Game Reserve in Mozambique, and Somkhanda Community Game Reserve and Maremani Nature Reserve in South Africa.

*African Parks manages Liwonde and Majete protected areas in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).

Zambia and African Parks to boost the protection of Kafue National Park!

The Government of Zambia and African Parks, a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on conservation, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement a Priority Support Plan for the protection and development of Kafue National Park. The Priority Support Plan will increase technical and financial support for the National Park worth US$3 million over a period of 12 months. During the 12 month, African Parks will work with Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) on key priority activities such as  improving critical infrastructure, supporting the DNPW's law enforcement efforts and conducting conservation baseline studies.

Kafue National Park © Frank Weitzer/African Parks

Kafue National Park  is the oldest and largest national park in Zambia, covering an area of about 22,400 km². It is located in in the centre of western Zambia, only a two hours drive from Livingstone. Kafue National Park is home to over 55 different species of mammals including elephants, large predators and 21 species of antelope – the highest diversity of antelope in Africa. Kafue National Park is also designated by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area, with at least 515 bird species recorded. The National Park is named for the Kafue River.
Kafue National Park forms part of the world's largest transfrontier conservation area, the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA). It is situated in the Kavango and Zambezi river basins where the borders of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge. It spans an area of approximately 520 000 km² and includes 36 proclaimed protected areas such as national parks, game reserves, forest reserves, community conservancies and game/wildlife management areas.

Zambia: Cheetahs have returned to the Bangweulu Wetlands after almost a century!

African Parks, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that manages 19 protected areas in 11 African countries, has announced that the Bangweulu Wetlands in Zambia has received a small founding group of cheetahs – the first of their species to return to this community-owned protected area in north-eastern Zambia in almost a century. The relocation of an initial three male cheetahs from South Africa took place in December 2020 resulting from a collaboration between Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), African Parks, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), Ashia Cheetah Conservation and National Geographic.
The cheetahs were safely released into temporary enclosures especially designed to support their acclimation and will be fitted with tracking collars to enable their long-term monitoring. The founder population is genetically unrelated and was sourced from three reserves, namely Mountain Zebra National Park (Eastern Cape), Rogge Cloof (Northern Cape) and Welgevonden (Waterberg, Limpopo). According to African Parks, the Bangweulu Wetlands is of suitable size (6,570 km²) and habitat to support a viable cheetah population. Its connectivity to other protected areas provides the added potential of establishing a healthy metapopulation to promote the long-term persistence of the species in the region.

Bangweulu Landscape - Credit: African Parks/Steve Lorenz Fischer

The Bangweulu Wetlands is designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International and as a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance. Located in north-eastern Zambia, the community-owned protected area is one of Africa’s most important wetland systems containing a unique floral and faunal diversity. The Bangweulu Wetlands supports 50,000 people who rely on the landscape’s rich resources. Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), six Community Resource Boards (CRBs) and African Parks partnered in 2008 to manage this vital 6,645 km² aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem.

Rwanda: African Parks takes over the management of Nyungwe National Park!

African Parks, a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on conservation, and the Government of Rwanda have signed an 20-year agreement for Nyungwe National Park, through which African Parks is taking over the management of the National Park. The NGO will work together with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), a government department that integrates all government agencies responsible for the attraction, retention and facilitation of investments in Rwanda's economy, to secure the sustainability of Nyungwe National Park by improving law enforcement, investing in and stimulating local enterprise, and by optimising the National Parks's potential for conservation-based tourism. 

Nyungwe National Park, which is located the south-west of Rwanda, is the largest expanse of forest in the country. The National Park is home to a quarter of Africa’s primates – 13 species including chimpanzees and the extremely rare Hamlyn’s and L’Hoest’s monkeys - as well as to more than 1,000 plant species, 75 known mammal species, 322 bird species and at least 120 butterfly species.

Nyungwe National Park represents the second such partnership between RDB and African Parks in Rwanda, following a management agreement for Akagera National Park that began 2010. It is the 19th Park in Africa to join the African Parks portfolio.

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.

Zimbabwe: African Parks takes over management of Matusadonha 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, and the Government of Zimbabwe have signed a 20-year agreement on 01 November 2019 for the management of the iconic Matusadonha National Park in in northern Zimbabwe. The organisation, in partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) is set to implement management strategies to secure the National Park and restore wildlife populations, unlocking its ecological, social and economic value enabling communities to derive long-term benefits. According to news reports, African Parks will invest US$8m in the next five years to revive Matusadonha National Park.

The 1,407km² Matusadonha National Park is situated in the north-west of Zimbabwe on the southern shores of Lake Kariba. It was once a conservation stronghold for elephants, lions and black rhinos until rampant poaching decimated populations. Matusadonha National Park is the sixteenth park to fall under African Parks' management, and the first within Zimbabwe.

Malawi: Cheetahs make return to Majete Wildlife Reserve!

African Parks, in partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), has succesfully translocated a small founder population of four wild cheetahs from South Africa to Majete Wildlife Reserve in the south-western part of Malawi. Cheetahs have not been present in the Wildlife Reserve, which is country's only Big Five reserve, for decades. Donated by Welgevonden Game Reserve, Samara Game Reserve and Dinokeng Game Reserve as well as Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa, the cheetahs were flown to Lilongwe International Airport (LLW) in Lilongwe and transferred by road to Majete Wildlife Reserve where they arrived safely on the evening of 25 July 2019. They were released into enclosures, where they will spend over a month acclimating to their new surroundings before venturing into the wider reserve. The animals are in good health and expected to do well in Majete Wildlife Reserve, where habitat and prey conditions are optimal and measures are in place to ensure their ongoing conservation and protection.

Cheetah Return to Majete from African Parks on Vimeo.

African Parks manages Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park in Malawi in partnership with the country's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). Majete Wildlife Reserve is located in the Lower Shire Valley in the South West of Malawi, approximately 70km (approx. 90 minutes drive by car) from Blantyre's Chileka International Airport (BLZ) and three hours from Lake Malawi.

Malawi: African Parks takes over the management of two more protected areas!

Update (28 Jan 2016): African Parks just announced that they have been awarded €2.6 million by the Dutch Postcode Lottery for the restoration of Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Malawi!

The non-profit park management organisation African Parks has taken over the management of two more of Malawi's reserves. African Parks, which already manages the 700km² Majete Wildlife Reserve, has concluded an agreement with the Government of Malawi to manage and operate Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve for 20 years.

Liwonde National Park is located in the southern Malawi. The National Park is 548m² in size and consists of woodland, floodplains, grasslands, and lagoon. It supports the largest remaining population of elephants in the country as well as one of two populations of black rhino. Liwonde National Park is also home to hippo, hyena, buffalo, warthog, several antelope species and more than 400 bird species.
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve is located in the central region of Malawi. The Reserve is 1,800 km² in size, lying within the Miombo woodland zone. It is a major catchment area for Lake Malawi. Although a depleted park, it still has remnant populations of elephant, warthog, baboon, and various antelope species as well as 280 bird species.
African Parks will invest $18 million into the two parks over a five-year period.

Rwanda: First lions to return to Akagera National Park!

update (28 July 2015): The seven lions have been released into Rwanda's Akagera National Park!



update (01 July 2015): The seven lions from South Africa have arrived in Rwanda's Akagera National Park!

Posted by The New Times Publications on Wednesday, 1 July 2015

Lions will return to Rwanda for the first time in 15 (20?) years, after the species was wiped out in the country following the 1994 genocide. The non-profit organisation African Parks is currently translocating seven lions from South Africa - two males and five females - into Akagera National Park, located in eastern Rwanda bodering Tanzania. The lions, which have been donated by &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal and by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife from Tembe Elephant Park also in KZN, are today (29 June 2015) being transported from South Africa and will arrive in Akagera National Park on 30 June 2015 after an approximately 26 hour journey.

On arrival in Akagera National Park, the seven lions will be placed in a specially-erected 1,000m² boma. They will be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days, during which they will be continually monitored, before being released into the park.