Olmoti heading for Rwanda
The Eastern black rhino will be released into a national park in Rwanda
An Eastern black rhino from Flamingo Land is to be released back into the wild, in Rwanda. She started her journey this week.
Flamingo Land is taking part in a “once in a lifetime” conservation project to release a critically endangered black rhino into the wild.
This week, one of the park’s Eastern black rhinos, Olmoti, started a journey which will culminate in her being released into the Akagera National Park in Rwanda.
During the first stage of the journey, three-year-old Olmoti will be moved by lorry to Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic, where she will meet four other rhino who will travel with her to Rwanda.
These rhino, all born in Europe, have been carefully chosen to inject genetic diversity into the rhino population in the African park.
Once they become socialised with each other, the group will be flown to Rwanda in one of the largest scale animal transportations of its type to ever take place.
The whole process, including a staged release in Rwanda, is expected to take up to a year.
Ross Snipp, Flamingo Land’s zoo manager, said: “Olmoti doesn’t know it yet, but she is about to become one of the most important black rhino in Africa. This is a once in a lifetime event. At Flamingo Land we are incredibly proud to be a part of this project, aimed at securing the long-term future of the Eastern black rhino population, which is under serious threat.”
Gordon Gibb, Flamingo Land’s owner, said: “The release of Olmoti, our beloved rhino, into the wilds of Rwanda is the culmination of my life’s work and that of our animal collection at Flamingo Land. Using our facility as a safe sanctuary to breed critically endangered animals is something we have been doing for decades.
“Our inspiration has always been to return offspring back to the wild and to replenish dwindling world populations. This is the only way of preventing the extinction of this majestic species.”
The main threats to the Eastern black rhino are poaching and habitat loss, but thankfully, at Akagera National Park, poaching has decreased by 97% in three years.
This is due to the park investing in a large team of rangers and sophisticated security and communication measures.
Olmoti’s mum, Samira, aged 17, will remain at Flamingo Land.
See video of Olmoti on l our website.