Decimated for Horns, Rescued by Helicopter: Black Rhinos' Journey to a New Life

Ten black rhinos have been relocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in Mozambique, a major success for conservationists in the effort to save a species that has been on the brink of extinction.

The operation, a collaboration between South African and Mozambican authorities and the Peace Parks Foundation, aims to create the first sustainable breeding population of black rhinos in Mozambique in over 50 years.

“Unfortunately, there are very few black rhinos in Mozambique, less than 20,” said Kester Vickery, founder of Conservation Solutions. “South Africa has a fairly healthy population of black rhinos. One of our main goals right now is to relocate some of the animals from South Africa to Zinave.”

The rhinos were carefully sedated, airlifted, dehorned for their protection, and transported in specially designed cages during the 48-hour journey from Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in South Africa to Zinave.

With these ten individuals, the total population of black rhinos in Zinave exceeds 20, a number considered crucial for the genetic diversity and long-term survival of the species.

“Black rhinos are special. They are much rarer and more endangered than white rhinos,” Antony Alexander, program manager at the Peace Parks Foundation, told Reuters. “We are bringing them back to their former habitat.”

The black rhino has been pushed to the brink of extinction by habitat destruction and illegal poaching for its horn, which is in high demand in Asian countries, where it is used in traditional medicine.

Three subspecies have been declared extinct, including the western black rhinoceros, which was declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2011.

The IUCN estimates that 3,142 adult black rhinos remain in the wild.