BLACK RHINO ROAM CHAD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 46 YEARS

Understanding in the field of Biodiversity Conservation and Management in Pretoria.

The Ministers had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding which allows for the translocation of black rhino from South Africa to Chad as part of an initiative to reintroduce 20 rhino to the African country.

The signing of the custodianship agreement for rhino between the two countries marked another step towards a pledge that had been made in 2013 by President Jacob Zuma to President Idris Deby to translocate and reintroduce black rhinoceros to Chad.

The translocation of six black rhino was achieved through a collaboration between the Department of Environmental Affairs, the Government of Chad, SANParks and the African Parks Foundation.

The six rhino had been transported from the Addo Elephant National Park, where they were held in bomas for three months. SANParks and African Parks veterinarians had accompanied the rhino on their long flight. The rhino were released into bomas prior to their release into the park, and are all doing well. A second group of rhino is to be translocated in 2019.

Welcoming rhino to the Zakouma National Park, South Africa’s Ambassador to Chad, Mr Titus Matlakeng said he was delighted that South Africa’s conservation success, particularly in saving the black rhino from extinction, had enabled the historic return of this iconic species to Chad. “My fervent hope is that this reintroduction will contribute to the strengthening of conservation and tourism sectors that are critical in advancing economic growth, social cohesion, and rural development in both countries,” he said.

“The development of communities that are bordering national parks and similar establishments, further creates opportunities for the enhancement of the livelihoods of our people, thus accordingly creating jobs, alleviating poverty and boosting local enterprises. This is well in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which encourages partnership, through development that will attain the “future we want” as the African continent.”

The last black rhino (Diceros bicornis longipes) in Chad was noted in Zakouma in 1972, which the species officially being declared extinct in 2006.

The translocation is part of a custodianship agreement in terms of which any offspring of these rhino are the property of Chad, and may be translocated to other countries as a means of re-establishing rhino populations within the continent in line with the African Rhino Range States Conservation Plan.

Chad had earlier signed an agreement with African Parks Network (APN) which allows APN to manage the country’s national parks.

Rhino have previously been translocated from South Africa to Namibia, Botswana, Rwanda and Tanzania.