Black rhino founder population return to Mozambique

18 June 2025

This week, 10 additional critically endangered black rhinos were successfully translocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in Mozambique to secure the first founder population of black rhinos since becoming locally extinct five decades ago.

The rhinos, five male and five female, were kindly donated by South Africa's provincial conservation entity, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, in collaboration with Mozambique's National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks Foundation, with financial support from players of UK People's Postcode Lottery. With 37 rhinos already introduced and thriving, this initiative aims to enhance biodiversity and reinforce the park as Mozambique's only 'big five' national park, setting a new standard for wildlife conservation and ecological restoration.

Peace Parks Foundation approached Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for a donation of black rhinos to boost the numbers to form a viable breeding population of black rhinos in Mozambique. An agreement was reached on the ten rhinos sourced from Ithala Game Reserve and Ezemvelo's three Black Rhino Range Expansion Project. The rhinos were initially relocated to Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, where they were housed in specially prepared holding facilities in preparation for the 48-hour journey to Zinave.

"This is a significant conservation success. We congratulate the Government of Mozambique and its co-management partner, Peace Parks Foundation, on achieving this important milestone. Establishing new founder populations is one of many critical interventions to secure the future of these species," said Dr Dion George, the South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

"South Africa's successes in rhino conservation and the implementation of anti-poaching and anti-trafficking efforts have stabilised its rhino populations, thereby placing the country in a position as a source of rhino for range States in Africa which have either lost many or all of their rhino and wish to re-establish populations or augment current populations, as is the case with this translocation. The export and import of these valuable black rhinos have been done in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora's legislation of both countries," added Minister George.

The Director General of the National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC), Pejul Calenga - the authority responsible for managing and overseeing conservation areas in Mozambique - expressed his gratitude to the South African Government and partners for their collaboration in the translocation of this iconic species to the country.

"For the year 2025, this will be the first translocation of rhinos to our country, and we are pleased with this process. We thank the South African Government and all partners involved. We would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to protecting Mozambique's conservation areas and to invite all friends of conservation, as well as tourists, to visit our country," he said.

"The journey to the recent successful translocation began in 2024 when Ezemvelo's renowned Game Capture Unit expertly captured the rhinos selected for the translocation. The animals selected from various game reserves were given the highest level of care whilst kept in holding bomas awaiting favourable conditions for the road transfer. We are proud to have once again translocated healthy and well-cared-for animals, continuing our proud tradition. This accomplishment reaffirms our enduring commitment to secure a future for rhinos in Africa," said Sihle Mkhize, Ezemvelo CEO.

Furthermore, in ensuring successful translocation and compliance with all the required permits the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Management Inspectors (EMIs), together with officials from Border Management Authority (BMA), played a crucial role during the loading and endorsement of CITES permits at the ports of exit. During the loading, the Departmental EMIs ensure that all the allocated microchip numbers, as prescribed in the CITES permits, correspond with those inserted in the live rhino.

The first rhinos were successfully translocated from South Africa to Zinave National Park in 2022, in the longest road transfer of rhinos ever undertaken. This initiative, the result of a partnership between Mozambique's National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks Foundation, marked the beginning of Mozambique's efforts to rebuild founder white and black rhino populations as part of a national conservation initiative to reintroduce rhinos in the country. In 2023, Peace Parks received a funding award of £800,000, raised by players of the UK People's Postcode Lottery towards the translocation of ten more black rhinos to Zinave, which enabled this critical next phase in rhino rewilding.

"Supporting the rewilding of critically endangered species like the black rhino is at the heart of what we believe in - creating lasting impact for people and planet. I am delighted that players of People's Postcode Lottery have been able to support Peace Parks Foundation. This historic translocation to Zinave National Park simply wouldn't have happened without player-raised funding. It's a powerful example of what we can achieve when we come together across borders to restore nature and protect our shared future," said Clara Govier, Managing Director of UK People's Postcode Lottery.

The broader objective of a long-term co-management agreement between ANAC and Peace Parks, signed in 2015, is to rewild the park to create a healthy ecosystem by introducing viable wildlife populations, attracting tourists and supporting the livelihoods of local communities living around the park. To date, 2,540 game animals representing 16 different species have been introduced to Zinave. The establishment of healthy rhino populations at the park is the pinnacle of the wildlife reintroduction programme and an important measure for the survival of the species.

"We sincerely thank the South African Government and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for collaborating on this important initiative to realise the vision of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, in which Zinave National Park is a key conservation anchor," said Peace Parks CEO Werner Myburgh. "The extensive rewilding and restoration programme at Zinave has transformed the landscape and breathed new life into the park for the benefit of both people and nature. Our sincere appreciation goes to players of UK People's Postcode Lottery for making this possible. Without their continued and unwavering support, groundbreaking conservation restoration success stories such as these will simply not be possible."

Peace Parks Foundation is taking measures to protect the rhino for future generations. One of these is the reintroduction of the iconic species to suitable habitats that have the capacity to rebuild large viable breeding herds in big, open systems under strong security and conservation management.

By reintroducing wildlife to areas where the species once thrived, biodiversity is restored. The preservation of natural ecosystems is one of the most effective tools in mitigating climate change. Through the creation of ecosystem 'carbon sinks', these ecosystems can increase global carbon uptake by up to 12 times.

"We extend our gratitude to the South African Government and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for their generous donation of 10 critically endangered black rhinos. The successful translocation of these rhinos to Zinave National Park not only enhances biodiversity but also reinforces our commitment to establishing Mozambique's only 'big five' national park. We are thankful for Peace Parks Foundation's support and partnership that make such groundbreaking conservation success stories possible," said Roberto Albino, Mozambique's Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries. With these latest additions, Zinave now hosts viable breeding populations of both black and white rhinos - a remarkable conservation recovery just a few years in the making.

For more information about Peace Parks Foundation, please visit www.peaceparks.org

Editor's notes

Mozambique Government's National Administration for Conservation Areas

Founded in 2011, National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) of Mozambique is an institution of the State responsible for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable development of ecotourism in Mozambique. Its main functions involve planning, co-ordination and implementation of activities in conservation areas, in partnership with other organizations and local communities. Conservation Areas managed by ANAC occupy about 25% of the Mozambique's national territory, including seven parks, seven national reserves, and 70 sport hunting areas divided into 20 official hunting grounds, nine hunting blocks, and 13 community programmes. For more information, visit www.anac.gov.mz.

South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

The department seeks to facilitate environmental cooperative governance across all spheres of government and to provide geographically referenced environmental information for decision-making. The department provides international negotiations and relations support to promote South Africa's global sustainable development agenda, as well as mobilisation of bilateral and multilateral financial and technical resources in support of national, sub-regional [Southern African Development Community (SADC)] and regional [New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)] environmental projects. South Africa continues to play a leading role in the negotiations around sustainable development, chemicals management, climate change, biodiversity and related heritage issues.

The DFFE is the central coordinating and policy making authority in respect of environmental conservation in South Africa. In its capacity the department has been designated a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) management authority with the responsibility of coordinating the implementation of the convention internally and to act as channel of communication between the CITES Secretariat and other parties on the one hand, and the provincial management authorities and other bodies involved on the other.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

Ezemvelo's mandate is derived from the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Management Act (Act No.9 of 1997), which is to direct the management of nature conservation within the province including protected areas (PAs). This includes the development and promotion of ecotourism facilities within the PAs. Ezemvelo manages more than 460 protected areas within the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Ezemvelo, as a state-owned entity, remains committed to deliver on the priorities of Government which include job creation. This is achieved by the organisation either entering partnerships or implementing programmes that enable job creation. These programmes are also aligned to further conservation efforts.

Ezemvelo is entrusted with the responsibility for managing the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site as well as performing conservation and ecotourism activities within the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park World Heritage Site. The organisation also manages several Ramsar sites (wetlands of international importance), such as Ndumo Game Reserve, Kosi Bay and Lake Sibaya.

Ezemvelo will continue to share its expertise with local and international partners and contribute to conservation efforts, including the donation of endangered species, as it has done in the past when it rescued the southern white rhino population from the brink of extinction. Today, every southern white rhino population worldwide can trace its genetic origins back to Ezemvelo's Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.
For more information, visit Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

Peace Parks Foundation

Founded in 1997 by President Nelson Mandela, Dr. Anton Rupert, and HRH Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands, Peace Parks Foundation is a leading African non-profit conservation organisation that specialises in conservation at scale through the development of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) and the long-term management of key protected areas within these landscapes. Peace Parks is currently involved in the co-management of eight key protected areas spanning over six million hectares and is in the process of expanding to 11 protected areas spanning ten million hectares by 2030. Should these protected areas be successfully developed and professionally managed, it will unlock the ecosystem functionality of five priority transboundary landscapes spanning 68 million hectares where people and nature not only co-exist but thrive.

The Foundation's inclusive co-management approach, rooted in conservation at a landscape level, community development, and innovative conservation finance, emphasises the need for an ecosystem-based approach to conservation and development transcending political and human boundaries. Peace Parks' vision is to achieve 17 fully functional transboundary landscapes by 2050 spanning 980,000 km² throughout southern Africa, making it arguably one of the world's largest conservation initiatives supporting sustainable economic development, the conservation of biodiversity, and regional peace and stability. For more information, visit www.peaceparks.org.

For more information, contact:

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

Musa Mntambo
Manager: Communications
E-mail: musa.mntambo@kznwildlife.com
Tel: +27 (0) 83 284 9586

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, South Africa

Peter Mbelengwa
Chief Director: Communications/Head of Communications
E-mail: pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za
Tel: +27 (0) 82 611 8197

ANAC

Ivan Mauro Zacarias
Communication Manager
E-mail: ivan.zacarias@anac.gov.mz
Tel: +258 (0) 82 559 6180

Peace Parks Foundation

Lésa van Rooyen
Marketing, Communications and Branding Manager
E-mail: Lvanrooyen@peaceparks.org
Tel: +27 (0) 82 441 4395

For media enquiries, please contact:

Thobile Zulu-Molobi
Mobile: +27 82 513 7154 
E-mail: tmolobi@dffe.gov.za  

Chelsey Wilken
Mobile: +27 74 470 5996 
E-mail: cwilken@dffe.gov.za