In a landmark event for wildlife conservation, Ugandan wildlife authorities have successfully reintroduced rhinos to Kidepo Valley National Park, marking the species’ return to the remote protected area for the first time since 1983.
The milestone comes after decades of absence, during which rhinos were poached into extinction within the park’s boundaries.
The operation involved the careful translocation of tranquilized southern white rhinos, with rangers working swiftly to prepare the animals for transport to their new home. The Kidepo Valley Conservation Area was historically occupied by the northern white rhino, a subspecies now on the brink of extinction.
“The Kidepo Valley conservation area used to be occupied by the northern white rhino species, which is a subspecies of the white rhino. But now we are taking the southern white rhino because the northern white rhino, as you may know, we are remaining with only two in the whole world,” a spokesperson for the wildlife authorities explained. “Two old females which are in Ol Pejeta here in Kenya. And of course, efforts are on to work on producing more northern white by fertilizing the embryos using the southern white rhino as the surrogate mother. So that is a process that is on.”
The return of the rhinos is being celebrated not only as a victory in the fight against poaching but also as a deeply personal moment for local communities with historical ties to the park.
One local resident shared the significance of the event, reflecting on his family’s deep connection to the land.
“To me personally, my father was a conservationist in Kidepo National Park. He was a ranger. But previously, my grandfather told me that the rhinos were here. They got extinct in the early ’70s,” he said. “However, to me now personally, when I saw the translocation of the rhinos, I was one of them who was overwhelmed. And I actually appreciate the management of UWA to actually support with the extinct animals.”
Conservationists expressed hope that this time, the rhinos will remain in Kidepo Valley National Park, establishing a lasting population in the area where they once roamed freely.
