Nine white rhinos return to Mozambique Park as rewilding effort gains ground
Nine female white rhinos have been reintroduced to a southern Mozambique national park, marking the latest step in a decade-long effort to restore species lost during the country’s civil war.
Mozambique lost virtually all of several large animal populations between 1977 and 1992, when rampant poaching and loss of centralized control in rural areas drove localized extinctions of rhinos and other wildlife.
Over the last 10 years, reintroduction efforts have helped Zinave National Park rebuild its rhino numbers. With the latest arrival, 39 white rhinos and 22 black rhinos now live in the park after being imported from South Africa.
Breeding is already underway. Officials confirmed the birth of a black rhino calf, a boost for the Critically Endangered species.
The rhinos are protected within a specially developed high-security sanctuary backed by investment in ranger capacity, surveillance systems, monitoring technology and specialized protection infrastructure.
“This translocation marks a chapter of pride and hope in Mozambique’s conservation journey,” said Pejul Calenga, Director-General of Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas. “By returning white rhinos to Zinave, we are not only securing the future of a keystone species but also restoring ecosystem balance, creating investment opportunities in the wildlife economy, supporting local community development, and demonstrating what is possible when partners work together for nature.”
Zinave, located along the Limpopo River on the border with Zimbabwe, is managed by the nonprofit Peace Parks Foundation. The organization oversees protection and sustainable development in 10 cross-border park areas across sub-Saharan Africa.
