SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 4 December 2024, Wednesday |

Zimbabwe re-introduces rhinos in Gonarezhou park after 3 decades

Zimbabwe is re-introducing rhinos to its second biggest wildlife park Gonarezhou, the first time that the sanctuary will be home to the species in three decades, the parks authority reported on Thursday.

Gonarezhou, which means ‘home of the elephant’ in the Shona language, is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park with Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park and South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

Black and white rhino would be introduced in Gonarezhou soon, said Tinashe Farawo, the spokesman for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

Farawo said the country now has nearly 1,000 rhinos after poaching decimated its numbers 3 decades ago.

The re-introduction of rhinos in Gonarezhou was “truly a momentous conservation achievement,” President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Twitter.

Rhinos are targeted by poachers and their horns, sold mostly in Asia, are said to treat issues from cancer to curing hangovers and clearing toxins.

Farawo did not elaborate on the number of rhinos to be reintroduced to Gonarezhou. Zimbabwe has the fourth-largest population after South Africa, Namibia and Kenya.

    Source:
  • Reuters