This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
On September 11, 2019, nine black rhinos from South Africa arrived in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to repopulate the park with the critically endangered species.
The animals, sourced from Thaba Tholo game farm in South Africa, were transported to the Serengeti on Tuesday morning, according to the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources.
"We will do everything in our power to protect these animals," said Deputy Natural Resources Minister Constantine Kanyasu, emphasizing the government's commitment to safeguarding the relocated rhinos.
Once a common sight across sub-Saharan Africa, black rhinos have faced significant threats, including hunting by European settlers and a devastating poaching epidemic that reduced their numbers to just 2,475 in 1993, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Thanks to concerted conservation efforts, the global black rhino population has rebounded to around 5,000, with Tanzania's population now standing at 167 rhinos.
