UGANDA’S RHINOS TO BE RE-INTRODUCED INTO THE WILD BY 2022

In Uganda, there are no more rhinos in the wild but this narrative is about to change if the plans of re-introducing these endangered species to their wild where they once roamed freely are to go by.
Uganda through the Uganda Wildlife Authority has revealed plans to re-introduce the Rhinos into the National parks by 2022. This exciting revelation follows the tremendous increase in the numbers of the Rhinos with their carrying capacity almost being at the Peak in their current habitats-Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary within Nakasongola district.

According to Bradford Ochieng-Deputy CEO Uganda Tourism Board, plans are underway to put the rhinos in the wild. He also added that their carrying capacity is almost at the peak and this year alone, over 5 newborn babies were welcomed at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This translocation initiative will be spearheaded by Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Rhino Fund Uganda, the Non-Governmental Organization that protects them.

“A feasibility study was conducted in the 2018/2019 financial year and it’s now a plan for the 2021/2022 financial year to undertake the translocation plans,” said Bashir Hangi-Communication Manager Uganda Wildlife Authority. This revelation was made during a press conference on Tuesday, 19th November 2019.
The black and white rhinos once roamed freely in the National Parks and were once part of the country’s heritage but due to illegal human activity and poaching, they became extinct in the 1970s. Their re-introduction is crucial to repairing the damage that was done to the biodiversity of wildlife through political instability as well as poaching. Before extinction, Uganda was a renowned tourist destination with a diversity of wildlife that included the Rhinos, birds and jaw-dropping scenery among others. There were several northern white rhinos in the country’s largest National Park-Murchison falls National Park as well as several eastern black rhinos in the remote Kidepo Valley National Park in north-eastern Uganda. Other Rhinos were in Ajai Wildlife Reserve (West Nile sub-region).

It’s because of the extinction of the Rhinos that the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was set up to bring Uganda back to the big five animals’ status. Once these plans become successful, tourists visiting the major Parks (Kidepo Valley National Park and Murchison falls National Park) will have the chance of seeing the big five animals-lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffaloes in the same place.