Chad gets six black rhinos, 50 years after local extinction

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Chad will see black rhinos return to the wild 50 years after they were brutally poached to local extinction. On Thursday, South Africa is sending six rare pachyderms to the massively secure Zakouma National Park.

Chad recorded its last black rhino in 1972.

“Six wild black rhinos were moved from a holding facility in South Africa’s Eastern Cape to begin a 3,000-mile translocation by air to Chad's Zakouma,” African Parks, a non-profit, announced.

Last year, governments of South Africa and Chad had collaborated with South African National Parks (SANParks) and African Parks to launch a conservation initiative to re-introduce black rhinos in Zakouma. Chad was once home to both the western black rhino and the northern white rhino.

The northern white rhino disappeared from the country several decades back. The last male northern white rhino, Sudan, died in Kenya in March, dashing hopes for the revival of the subspecies. Rhinos are targeted for the lucrative trade in illicit horn; in recent years, they've been among the most threatened species on the planet.

Wildlife conservation agencies and governments are re-introducing black rhinos after years of preparation to secure Zakouma from poachers.

Authorities have deployed a dedicated rhino ranger team that has been given rigorous advanced training to protect rhinos. Aerial surveillance and numerous other security measures have been implemented specifically for the re-introduction of the rhinos.

“Today, we are participating in a historical event and peering into a brighter future for this species which has persisted on this planet for millions of years,” said Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks. African Parks had earlier re-introduced rhinos and lions from South Africa to Rwanda. Plans are also afoot to relocate lions to Malawi.

Chad’s Ambassador to South Africa Sagour Youssouf Mahamat maintained that the country resolves to create a secure and prosperous future for wildlife and people, so that generations of Chadians can experience the benefits of healthy and intact natural landscapes.

“It is a mark of the strength of our partnership with African Parks and the transformation of Zakouma into a secure sanctuary that we are now able to bring rhinos back to Chad, where they will receive enduring protection,” he said.