On Tuesday, June 10, Rwanda welcomed 70 white rhinos to Akagera National Park. The animals were translocated from various parks in South Africa in one of the largest international rhino relocations to date.
Rwanda was chosen for this significant conservation effort due to its strong track record in protecting biodiversity—particularly endangered species like rhinos.
The arrival of the rhinos was made possible through a partnership between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and African Parks.
According to IGIHE, the group includes 28 male rhinos. RDB reports that each rhino is valued at approximately $100,000, and the journey covered around 3,400 kilometers from South Africa to Rwanda.
This latest group joins 41 other white rhinos already in Akagera, most of which descended from 30 individuals reintroduced in 2021, also from South Africa. One of the newly arrived rhinos weighs up to 3.5 tons.
With these additions, Akagera National Park is now home to 111 white rhinos. Nationwide, Rwanda hosts nearly 140 rhinos, including black rhinos already present in the park.
The country’s last native rhino died in 2007. However, in 2017, Rwanda reintroduced 18 black rhinos to Akagera. These have since grown in number, now totaling 34 through natural breeding.
Similarly, the 31 white rhinos introduced in 2021 have increased to 41. According to RDB, the reintroduction of rhinos has significantly boosted tourism, with visitor numbers rising from 15,000 in 2017 to over 48,000 in 2024.
