The black rhino population in Botswana has doubled thanks to the successful migration of twenty individuals from South Africa to a remote and safe location in the country.
This move was completed in early September as part of the WWF South Africa Black Rhino Range Expansion Programme (BRREP). The newly arrived animals are already acclimatizing to their new habitat.
The translocation involved two road crossings lasting 36 hours and is the second cross-border movement carried out by the programme. The first international transfer took place in 2019 when black rhinos were moved to Lvivonde National Park in Malawi.
The twenty rhinos were captured in KwaZulu-Natal in early June and underwent quarantine in a boma before being transported to their new home. According to BRREP leader Jeff Cook, all 20 animals arrived safely and are adapting well.
WWF South Africa notes that finding sufficiently large areas of suitable habitat is becoming increasingly difficult. BRREP typically seeks territories of about 20,000 hectares or more, where black rhino populations can be restored and gain space for breeding and growth.
The latest translocation is particularly significant for Botswana, as there has been increased poaching pressure in recent years, especially in the Okavango Delta area.
The International Rhino Fund estimates that there were about 25 black rhinos remaining in Botswana before the last move. The new numbers raise the total population estimate in the country to approximately 45 individuals.
Cook stated that expanding the programme across international borders is becoming increasingly important as suitable habitats become harder to find. Establishing new populations in other black rhino range states can also contribute to the overall recovery of the species and potentially create opportunities for animals to expand into additional areas in the future.
BRREP has been involved in relocating black rhino populations since 2003 with the aim of restoring the species in suitable areas where populations can grow. To date, the programme has established 18 new black rhino populations and relocated 310 animals, including the latest group sent to Botswana. More than 220 calves have survived in BRREP facilities so far.
The programme's benefits extend beyond black rhinos. It has encouraged landowners to consolidate small habitat patches into larger, ecologically viable blocks. These landscapes can also support other species requiring extensive territories, such as wild dogs, vultures, and cheetahs.
WWF South Africa emphasized that the translocation to Botswana demonstrates the importance of coordinated conservation efforts and partnership in supporting the recovery of the black rhino population on the continent.