The Garamba National Park, a wildlife reserve located in the province of Haut-Uélé, has just received a dozen white rhinos from South Africa. This initiative is the result of a project carried out since 2022 with a view to restoring the population of this endangered species. The relocation of white rhinos in Garamba is an initiative of Kibali Gold Mine, a subsidiary of Barrick Gold, a Canadian company operating and developing mining sites operating in the DRC.
To supervise the project, the company joined forces with African Park and the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), a public institution responsible for the conservation of protected areas in the DRC. This organization’s mission is to ensure the protection of local wildlife in danger of extinction, in the face of poachers and the various wars that the region has known.
The white rhinos have been almost decimated by poachers and the population of this species has fallen from about 1000 animals in 1960 to only 15 individuals in 1994. For Mark Bristow, president and CEO of Barrick Gold Corporation, the objective is to create a new population group for this species to contribute to its long-term survival and enhance the attractiveness of the park. This restoration of the white rhinoceros population in Garamba is part of the initiative to protect and promote biodiversity advocated by Barrick Gold.
Garamba National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers around 5000 km2 and is home to other endangered species, such as elephant, northern giraffe, hippopotamus, buffalo and okapi. This relocation of white rhinos in Garamba, a real showcase of the region’s tourist potential, is a major challenge for local populations. The governor of Haut-Uélé, Christophe Nangaa, hopes that this project will boost tourism in the region, and invites to work on the infrastructures so that they are adapted to the influx of visitors