Two relocated rhino dead

Two of the six critically endangered black rhino relocated from South Africa to a national park in Chad in May this year have been found dead.

In a joint statement yesterday, the governments of South Africa and Chad, and African Parks and South African National Parks (SANParks) confirmed that two black rhino carcasses had been discovered in Zakouma National Park in Chad.

The rhino were among a group of six black rhino translocated to Chad from South Africa in May 2018 to bring the species back to Zakouma National Park after almost a 50-year absence.

The rhino had been held in bomas in the national park for two months after their arrival in Chad on May 4, before being released into a temporary sanctuary for another two months.

In late August, the sanctuary fence was removed and the rhino were free to roam the wider park where they continued to be monitored constantly. The carcasses of two of the rhino – a bull and a cow – were discovered on October 15.

“We can confirm that these two rhino were not poached. However, the exact cause of death is not yet known,” a statement reads. A specialist veterinarian will now conduct a post-mortem.– ANA