This archive report was first published on 29 June 2019.
A devastating loss has occurred in the conservation community as a 17-year-old black rhino named Zambezi died on June 29, 2019, while being transported from Port Lympne in Kent to the Serengeti in Tanzania.
As reported by the BBC on June 29, 2019, Zambezi was part of a program aimed at repopulating the Serengeti with black rhinos, a species critically endangered with only about 5,600 individuals remaining in the wild.
Investigation Underway ¶
The Aspinall Foundation, which owned the nature reserve where Zambezi was born in 2002, has vowed to investigate the cause of death to determine if any lessons can be learned to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Zambezi, who had sired three calves during his time in captivity, was being flown from Lydd airport to the Grumeti Reserve, accompanied by a keeper from Port Lympne and a vet from Africa.
Chairman Damian Aspinall expressed his shock and devastation at the loss, stating,
"We do not yet know what caused his death, but we will, of course, carry out every examination and inquiry possible to see if there are lessons to be learned."
A Commitment to Conservation ¶
Despite this setback, the Aspinall Foundation remains committed to its conservation efforts, having successfully returned eight black rhinos to their native homeland. Aspinall emphasized his belief that animals like Zambezi do not belong in captivity, with the long-term goal of phasing out zoos or ensuring they contribute meaningfully to conservation work.
