SA relocates 10 endangered black rhinos to Mozambique — but will they be safe from poaching?

Conservation teams successfully translocated ten additional black rhinos from South Africa to Zinave National Park in Mozambique, aiming to establish the first founder population since the species disappeared from the area 50 years ago.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, South Africa’s provincial conservation agency, donated the five male and five female rhinos in partnership with Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the Peace Parks Foundation.

Funding from the United Kingdom’s People’s Postcode Lottery made the translocation possible.

It’s a curious move considering the vast majority of poachers apprehended in the Kruger National Park are either Mozambican or have crossed over into South Africa through the porous fence that separates the two countries.

Biodiversity restored

Reintroducing wildlife to areas where the species once thrived helps restore biodiversity.

Conservationists use the preservation of natural ecosystems as one of the most powerful tools to fight climate change.

By creating ecosystem ‘carbon sinks,’ these restored environments can boost global carbon absorption by up to 12 times.

With 37 rhinos already introduced and thriving, the initiative continues to strengthen biodiversity and position the park as Mozambique’s only ‘big five’ national park—setting a new benchmark for wildlife conservation and ecological recovery.

Peace Parks Foundation asked Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to donate black rhinos to help establish a viable breeding population in Mozambique.

Both parties agreed to relocate 10 rhinos sourced from Ithala Game Reserve and Ezemvelo’s three Black Rhino Range Expansion Project sites.

The team first moved the rhinos to Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, where they kept them in specially prepared holding facilities before starting the 48-hour journey to Zinave.

‘Conservation success’

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, hailed the initiative as a major conservation achievement.

George praised the Government of Mozambique and its co-management partner, Peace Parks Foundation, for reaching this milestone, emphasising that creating new founder populations is a key step in protecting endangered species.

He added that South Africa’s success in rhino conservation, along with strong anti-poaching and anti-trafficking measures, has stabilised its rhino numbers—enabling the country to serve as a source for other African range states that have lost many or all of their rhinos and are now working to restore or strengthen their populations, as demonstrated by this translocation. 

“The export and import of these valuable black rhinos have been done in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’s legislation of both countries,” the Minister said.

CITES permits

To ensure successful translocation and compliance with all the required permits, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Management Inspectors (EMIs), together with officials from Border Management Authority (BMA), played a crucial role during the loading and endorsement of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permits at the ports of exit. 

During the loading this week, the departmental EMIs ensured that all the allocated microchip numbers, as prescribed in the CITES permits, correspond with those inserted in the live rhino.

The first rhinos were successfully translocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in 2022, in the longest road transfer of rhinos ever undertaken. 

This initiative, the result of a partnership between Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks Foundation, marked the beginning of Mozambique’s efforts to rebuild founder white and black rhino populations as part of a national conservation initiative to reintroduce rhinos in the country. 

Rhino rewilding

In 2023, Peace Parks received a funding award of £800 000, raised by players of the UK People’s Postcode Lottery towards the translocation of 10 more black rhinos to Zinave, which enabled this critical next phase in rhino rewilding.

“Supporting the rewilding of critically endangered species like the black rhino is at the heart of what we believe in – creating lasting impact for people and planet. I am delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery have been able to support Peace Parks Foundation. 

“This historic translocation to Zinave National Park simply wouldn’t have happened without player-raised funding. It’s a powerful example of what we can achieve when we come together across borders to restore nature and protect our shared future,” Managing Director of UK People’s Postcode Lottery Clara Govier said.