The territory of Garamba, located in the province of Haut-Uélé, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has just welcomed a newcomer: the white rhinoceros. Indeed, after suffering a strong decimation, these endangered species were recently reintroduced in Garamba National Park, as part of a wildlife conservation project. This project is supervised by “Kibali Gold Mine”, a subsidiary of Barrick Gold, a Canadian mining company operating in the DRC. To do this, it has partnered with African Park and the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN).
Barrick Gold Corporation invests heavily in biodiversity conservation and works to ensure the long-term survival of endangered species. In addition to the reintroduction of white rhinos, this company finances various initiatives in the DRC, such as the fitting of GPS collars on species such as elephants and lions, satellite connection and veterinary care. The aim of the company is to contribute to the survival of endangered species, while enhancing the attractiveness of the parks in terms of tourism.
So far, 16 rhinos have been introduced and closely monitored by animal experts. The governor of Haut-Uélé, Christophe Nangaa, underlined that this initiative must be profitable and that the authorities must work on the infrastructures in order to attract tourists. “If this is not done, I think we will have thrown money into the water. We have spent a lot of money for the benefit of the province and the country. […] We assume that these animals will attract the attention of the whole world, which must understand that there are people who live around these animals and that there is a park that is found in a province, which wants to derive dividends from its realities and commensurate with the investment they want to make here…” he said.
The Garamba National Park, which covers approximately 5000 km2 and is located 70 km north of the Kibali mine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the oldest national parks in Africa and is home to a wide variety of species, such as elephants, northern giraffes, hippos, buffaloes and okapis. Visitors cannot enter the area without prior permission, but the relocation of white rhinos could help attract more tourists, which could benefit locals.
Environmental organizations are celebrating this reintroduction for the long-term survival of white rhinos