The East African nation aims to reintroduce a total of 36 white rhinos, following decades of their absence. According to Emmanuel Kaaya, a rhino specialist, remnants of the species have been identified in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where they will be reintroduced.
Tanzania’s black rhino population has also faced a drastic decline, dropping from approximately 10,000 in the 1970s to just 212 in 2021, as reported by the International Rhino Foundation (IRF). Meanwhile, South Africa, home to most of the world’s remaining white rhinos, has seen its population dwindle due to relentless poaching, losing over 10,000 rhinos since 2007.
During the handover ceremony on March 4, South African community leader Inkosi Gumede Zwelinzima highlighted the importance of translocating rhinos to safer habitats, stating, “Rampant poaching has put them at great risk. That is why we have started relocating them to countries like Botswana, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and now Tanzania.” Despite these challenges, he noted that South Africa’s conservation efforts have helped stabilize white rhino populations.
The newly arrived rhinos will be kept in an enclosure to acclimate before their release into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute has identified the conservation area as a suitable habitat and is considering future introductions in reserves such as Mikumi and Burigi-Chato.
White rhinos, despite their name, are not actually white. They are larger than black rhinos, with a distinct mouth shape and longer front horns. Tanzania’s latest conservation initiative aligns with broader international efforts to protect and restore rhino populations amid ongoing poaching threats.