This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
On September 10, 2019, nine black rhinos from South Africa arrived in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, marking a significant step in conservation efforts to repopulate the critically endangered species.
The rhinos, 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.
Black rhinos were once plentiful across sub-Saharan Africa, but their population drastically declined due to hunting by European settlers and a poaching epidemic. By 1993, only 2,475 black rhinos remained, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Thanks to conservation efforts, the global population has increased to around 5,000, with Tanzania's population now standing at 167 rhinos.
