Uganda has started moving southern white rhinos back to Kidepo Valley National Park in the country’s northeast, marking their return to the area after more than four decades.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) confirmed that the first two rhinos have already been safely transferred from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in central Uganda. The relocation will be done in phases, with more animals expected to follow.
UWA Executive Director James Musinguzi said the move is a major step in bringing back a species that once thrived in Kidepo. He added that additional rhinos will be introduced over time to build a stable and growing population.
Rhinos disappeared from the park in the late 1970s and early 1980s due to heavy poaching and insecurity. The last one in the area was killed in 1983 in Narus Valley.
The reintroduction is part of Uganda’s wider plan to restore rhinos to their natural habitats and strengthen conservation efforts across the country.
Uganda’s rhino comeback began in 2005 at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. With the recent arrival of eight more rhinos from South Africa, authorities now have the capacity to expand the programme to other protected areas.
The country currently has a total of 61 rhinos, according to UWA.
