Rwanda: Akagera National Park welcomes 30 white rhinos in largest-ever single translocation!

In the largest single rhino translocation ever undertaken, 30 white rhinos have been introduced to Akagera National Park in Rwanda in November 2021. The rhinos were sourced from the andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The translocation was carried out through a collaboration between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), African Parks and andBeyond, with funding provided by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The rhinos will be monitored daily in Akagera National Park by a dedicated team and a specialist veterinarian who will be overseeing their acclimation. Each rhino has also been fitted with a transmitter to enable constant monitoring by dedicated tracking teams; a canine anti-poaching unit and helicopter surveillance are also in place to provide further support for their long-term protection.
The translocation of the 30 rhino to Akagera National Park aims to extend the white rhino range and create a secure new breeding stronghold in Rwanda, supporting population growth to ensure the long-term survival of the species in the wild as high-levels of poaching continue to exert unsustainable pressure on current populations. In the recent years, lions (2015) as well as black rhino (2017 and 2019) have already been successfully reintroduced to Akagera National Park.

White rhinos introduced to Akagera in Rwanda
© Gael Vande Weghe & African Parks

Akagera National Park is a protected area in eastern Rwanda covering 1,122 km² along the international border with Tanzania. The National Park is Central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last remaining refuge for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda.

South Africa: New rhino and elephant poaching figures!

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), South Africa has lost at least 508 rhinos to illegal poaching between 01 January 2018 and 31 August 2018 (January - August 2017 = 691). Out of the 508 rhinos poached, at least 292 rhinos (2017: 332) got illegally killed by poachers in Kruger National Park. 163 rhinos were poached in KwaZulu-Natal between 01 January and 31 August 2017, while this year's number stands at "only" 83. The provincial and national breakdown for the period 01 January to 30 August 2018 is as follows:

• Kruger National Park - 292 (2017: 332) rhinos
• Gauteng - 0 (3) rhino
• Limpopo - 25 (54) rhinos
• Mpumalanga - 38 (31) rhinos
• North West - 50 (56) rhinos
• Eastern Cape - 13 (4) rhinos
• Free State - 4 (28) rhinos
• Northern Cape - 3 (19) rhinos
• KwaZulu-Natal - 83 (163) rhinos
• Western Cape - 0 (0) rhino

A total of 13 wildlife traffickers (5 Chinese nationals and eight South Africans) were arrested between 01 January and 31 August 2018. More than 60,92kg of rhino horn was confiscated and linked to poaching crime scenes in KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape. For Kruger National Park, the number of arrests of alleged poachers stands at 162 for the period 01 January 2018 to 31 August 2018. A total of 145 weapons have been seized in rhino-related incidents both inside and outside Kruger National Park since the beginning of 2018; and a total of 83 rhino horn confiscated in the same period.

A total of 58 elephants were poached in the Kruger National Park between 01 January and 31 August 2018.

South Africa: New rhino laws gazetted

South Africa's Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Edna Molewa, published new norms and standards for marking rhino horn and trophy hunting for immediate implementation.
According to the new norms and standards, all live rhinos sold and transported after the commencement of these norms and standards that have not been micro-chipped before, or where the micro-chip is no longer detectable must be micro-chipped on the left shoulder of the rhino and on each of its horns. All rhino horns, whether acquired by a legal dehorning procedure, natural mortality or where the rhino has lost its horn in a natural manner must be micro-chipped within five days of acquiring the horn. In addition to micro-chips, if the horn or part of it was more than 5cm in length, the issuing authority would mark it with indelible ink.

Regarding the hunting of rhinos, applicants now have, in addition to the application for an actual hunting permit,  to submit proof of membership of a hunting association recognised by the applicant's country of residence, a curriculum vitae indicating the applicant's hunting experience, proof of previous experience in hunting an African species, and a copy of the applicant's passport.
The new norms and standards are also stating that a hunting client can hunt only one white rhino for trophy purposes within a 12-month period, that rhino hunts have to take place in the presence of an environmental management inspector, or an official of the issuing authority authorised to conduct compliance inspections, and that the horns, together with the rest of the trophy, have to be transported by a duly authorised person directly to the taxidermy or similar facility to be processed and prepared for export.
Click here to download the Gazette No. 35248 of 10 April 2012 (pdf).