A conservation area in KwaZulu-Natal has welcomed a new herd of Southern White Rhinos as part of African Parks’ Rhino Rewild Initiative, which is the largest rewilding project in the world. This ambitious initiative aims to rewild over 2,000 rhinos, making it the most extensive rewilding effort ever undertaken.

The new home for the rhinos is a conservation area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, spanning over 20,000 acres and featuring diverse ecosystems such as savannah, thornveld, and grassland. This reserve contains important historical sites from the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer wars, adding a deep cultural heritage to its ecological significance. This initiative is designed to improve the reserve’s current rhino population by introducing new genetics. Prior to their relocation, all rhinos underwent dehorning.

This move is particularly significant for The Wildlife Emergency Fund (WEF) as it marks their second and final action for the year, emphasizing their ongoing partnership with African Parks. This collaboration is part of a sustained effort to relocate rhinos following the acquisition of 2,000 Southern White Rhinos last year. 

“Our third rhino translocation project with African Parks is now complete, bringing a new herd of rhinos to their beautiful new home in KwaZulu-Natal. As we approach the end of the year for this long-term project, the urgent need to secure new, safe habitats becomes even more critical. How do we move 2,000 rhinos? We do it one rhino at a time, emphasizing that every individual matters—this is the ethos at the heart of our mission. We are grateful for our ongoing collaboration with partners like DCM Surfaces, African Parks, and Conservation Solutions.”

Dereck Milburn, Director, Wildlife Emergency Fund 

We are excited to have this conservation area as our partner in our Rhino Rewild Initiative. This is the exact outcome that we desire: a well-managed, efficiently run, safe reserve boasting excellent habitat to support these rhinos. We are confident that the rhinos will thrive here, and we look forward to collaborating with this reserve and other locations where rhinos can realize their ecological potential in a secure environment that promotes optimal growth.

Don Jooste, Director, Rhino Rewild  

“We are proud to be receiving a number of white rhinos from African Parks as part of their rhino rewilding program. White rhinos are an iconic African species that have faced severe threats over the last decade due to poaching. We take pride in our efforts to protect our rhinos and other wildlife populations. The rhinos we are receiving will be dehorned like the rest of our population. We are confident they will enjoy making our beautiful and diverse game reserve their new home.”

Chairman of the Receiving Reserve