After ten years of nonexistence, Rhinos have been re-introduced to Rwanda’s Akagera national park making a park a unique site for the big five game. The last rhino was spotted in 2007 after which they extinct totally not leaving a single individual in the national park. Despite them being a great symbol for Africa, Rhinos are the most threatened animals by illegal hunting for horn trade, which has hindered increase in their population across Africa and the whole world.
On 9th May 2017 at 03:00am, the first set of rhinos was offloaded at Kigali international airport from Thaba Tholo game farm in Limpopo a province in South Africa. This marked a historic move for the rhinos and Rwanda as a unique tourism destination. It is also Rwanda’s testament to extra-ordinary commitment to conservation as well as a milestone in the restoration of diversity in the national park.
The re introduced Rhinos have added on the seven lionsthat were re introduced in 2015 making Akagera national park a home for the big five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos making Akagera the best tourism destination for wildlife safaris.
A team comprised of the chief tourism officer at Rwanda development board, the manager of Akagera national park and the South African ambassador to Rwanda were at the airport to receive new rhinos.
Additionally, a group of veterinary doctors where there to supervise the offloading and the re-loading of these endangered rhinos to Akagera national park.
The Howard G. Buffet Foundation, the Rwanda development board, African parks and a non-profit organization that manages national parks on behalf of the government are the sponsored of the re-introduction project.
To ensure safety of the re-introduced rhinos and completely eradicate illegal hunting, a canine anti poaching units, helicopters for air investigations have been deployed. Also, Rwanda development board has deployed a team of expertly trained rhino tracking and protection doctors to ensure good health of the endangered rhinos.
There are approximately 5000 rhinos remaining in the whole world 1000 of which are eastern black rhinos. The limited populations qualify rhinos as one of the critically endangered species surviving in the wild.
The other wildlife in the national park include 500 bird species and 8000 large mammals 90 of which are elephants alongside buffalos and leopards among others.
Conclusively therefore, the re introduction of rhinos is Akagera national park is a strategy to restore, develop and manage Akagera as a unique tourism destination.
