Recently, Dr. Markus Hofmeyr, Director of the Rhino Recovery Fund (RRF), appeared on DW News to discuss how African Parks is planning the largest rhino rewilding operation ever conducted. The RRF is helping African Parks develop the strategy for this ambitious project, known as “Platinum Rhino,” which will relocate 2,000 southern white rhinos that African Parks purchased from a private owner.
These rhinos will be relocated to well-managed protected areas across Africa over the next decade. RRF funding helps African Parks implement the framework for this collaborative project, which will significantly bolster the recovery of white rhino populations and reintroduce them to new segments of their historic range.
Markus spoke with DW News about the remarkable opportunity this rewilding project represents for rhino recovery, and acknowledged the challenges inherent in a project of this immense size and complexity. Despite these challenges, Markus and the RRF remain incredibly excited about supporting the incredible work of African Parks, as well as hopeful for the tremendous impact that this project will have for rhinos over time.
“To protect rhinos, you have to be able to have safe landscapes. So not only rhinos will benefit, but all the other species that live in that landscape as well, so [this project] is a very good proxy for successful conservation outcomes,” says Markus. “I’m very excited and very hopeful for the future for rhino recovery.”
Listen to Markus’ full interview about this rhino relocation project (beginning at the 2:35 mark) and learn more on DW News.