More than 40 years after rhinoceroses were wiped out in Mozambique, the first 19 gray giants have been reintroduced to the South African country. The white rhinoceroses were trucked and moved over 60 hours and 1600 kilometers from South Africa to Mozambique’s Zinave National Park, according to the Peace Parks Foundation.
According to the foundation, an additional 21 white and black rhinoceroses will be added in the next two to three years. The return of the rhinoceros means that Mozambique is now home to the “Big Five” for the first time: elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros.
Rhinoceroses important for a healthy ecosystem
That’s important not only for tourism, but also for a healthy ecosystem, said Peace Parks Foundation president Werner Myburgh. The foundation hopes the Zinave National Park’s rhino population will be large enough in eight to 10 years to allow other protected areas in Africa to replenish the animals hunted for their horns, Myburgh said.
Animals are poached for their horns
According to the conservation organization WWF, there are still about 18,000 white rhinoceroses and about 5,600 endangered black rhinoceroses in Africa. Year after year, dozens of animals are killed by poachers for their horns. In Asia, especially in Vietnam and China, the horn is popular as an ingredient in traditional medicine and costs about the same as gold.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
