Zimbabwe to restore rhinos to second largest park
Zimbabwe is planning to re-introduce rhinos to its second largest national park, 30 years after the last rhino there was killed by poachers.
Officials say the rhino population in the country has increased, which is why some are being moved to Gonarezhou national park.
They say the move could have taken place last year were it not for the coronavirus pandemic.
Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa termed it a "momentous conservation achievement":
In 1991, poachers savagely wiped out the rhino population in Gonarezhou.
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) May 13, 2021
Today, Zimbabwe is reintroducing black and white rhinos to the region.
Truly a momentous conservation achievement! 🇿🇼 https://t.co/Xf9gKu2VGW
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority says the rhino population in the country has grown from 100 in 1991 to 1,000 currently, according to a Bloomberg report.
It is unclear how many of those would be moved to Gonarezhou national park.
Rhino horn is prized in China where it is used in some traditional medicine, even though it is made of the same material as fingernails and has no proven medicinal properties.
This article originally appeared on BBC News
Photo: Getty Images