Klerksdorp, South Africa — As I scraped away the morning frost from my tent, I pondered the suitability of this highveld for white rhinos. Yet, just a short drive from Johannesburg, the world’s largest private herd of white rhinos thrives here. This impressive 2,000-strong herd, Ceratotherium simum, constitutes 12% of the remaining global population.
An hour later, I was struggling across a grassy paddock, pulling a thick rope tied to a tranquilized 2.2-ton rhino. My muscles ached, and my breath came in ragged bursts as I guided the animal, which was still disoriented from the tranquilizer.
Minutes earlier, our team had watched from a pickup truck as a vet, from a helicopter, administered an immobilizing drug. A horseback rider then directed the rhino to a clear area, allowing the tranquilizer to take effect. As the rhino’s movements slowed, our team sprang into action.
The experts administered an antidote, checked vital signs, lubricated the rhino’s eyes, and covered its massive head with a blindfold. Data specific to this rhino was meticulously recorded. The horns were carefully removed with a chainsaw, safeguarded by an armed guard, and prepared for secure offsite storage.
The Decline of Rhino Populations
To understand the urgency of this rewilding effort, we must consider the history of rhino population decline. European hunters, armed with increasingly sophisticated rifles, devastated the southern white rhino population after naturalist William John Burchell’s 1817 illustrations. By the early 1900s, fewer than 100 rhinos remained.
In 1895, Umfolozi Junction Reserve, now Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, was established to protect the white rhino from extinction. By the 1950s, the population had rebounded to over 400. Conservationist Ian Player’s “Operation Rhino” successfully relocated white rhinos to protected areas, increasing their numbers to about 20,000 by 2010.
However, by 2012, a surge in poaching—driven by demand for rhino horn in traditional Chinese medicine and as a status symbol—threatened this progress. Rhino deaths began to outpace births, reducing the population to an estimated 16,803.
Criminal syndicates involved in drug, weapon, and human trafficking have exacerbated poaching. Private rhino owners, who now manage over 50% of Africa’s rhinos, face escalating costs and diminishing resources as they combat this threat.
The World’s Largest Rhino-Breeding Farm
In response to the crisis, property developer John Hume established a large rhino-breeding farm, hoping to sell harvested horns legally. Despite initial success, Hume’s venture faced financial collapse due to the illegal wildlife trafficking industry’s sophistication and CITES’ refusal to permit international horn sales.
Hume eventually sold his farm and rhinos to African Parks, a South African nonprofit dedicated to managing protected areas. Hume retains ownership of a large stockpile of harvested horns.
African Parks has initiated a project to rewild these farmed rhinos. Some will be relocated to African Parks-managed reserves, while others will join well-managed reserves like those in the Greater Kruger region.
A Day in the Life of Rhino Rewilding
The rewilding process is intricate. I observed as rhinos were notched for identification, equipped with tracking devices, and carefully transported across the savanna. Despite the logistical challenges and occasional setbacks—such as a rhino breaking free from its blindfold—the team’s dedication was evident.
Each decision in the operation prioritized rhino welfare, with careful planning and execution despite unexpected delays. After crating 32 rhinos, ownership transferred to new caretakers for their journey to the wild. These new owners fund the translocation, while African Parks donates the rhinos.
Ensuring the Safety of Translocated Rhinos
The critical question remains: Will these rhinos be safe from poaching in their new home? Private reserves in the Greater Kruger area maintain robust anti-poaching measures. However, rhinos are likely to remain close to reliable food and water sources, reducing their risk of entering areas with higher poaching rates.
Challenges include predation from lions and hyenas, competition with dominant wild rhinos, and diseases not present in their previous environment. African Parks’ experience with high-risk translocations, such as to Akagera National Park in Rwanda, helps mitigate these threats.
Despite the risks, the rewilding project aims to bolster the wild rhino population. As Sharon Haussmann, CEO of the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation, emphasized, the goal is to balance the welfare of individual rhinos with the broader conservation objectives.
A Glimmer of Hope
Recent updates on rewilded rhinos in the Greater Kruger include a successful birth and positive integration into the wild population. Advanced tracking technology allows continuous monitoring of these animals, ensuring their adaptation to their new environment.
The tale of a young rhino, who faced numerous challenges but ultimately recovered, exemplifies the resilience and dedication involved in this conservation effort. The project not only aims to restore rhino populations but also to generate hope for the future of open ecosystems and wildlife conservation.
The northern white rhino is extinct in the wild due to poaching and illegal trade. However, the southern white rhino, thanks to initiatives like Rhino Rewild, stands a chance of survival and recovery.
