The Garamba Faunal Reserve, located in the province of Haut-Uélé in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has become the home of a dozen white rhinos reintroduced into their natural habitat. The reintroduction operation took place successfully this Friday, June 9, 2023 and is part of the project to restore the population of white rhinos in this protected area. The initiative was funded by the Canadian mining company Barrick Gold, which also works for the protection of biodiversity and the conservation of wildlife.
The Garamba reserve, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was created to protect the habitat of elephants, giraffes, hippos, buffaloes, okapis, and white rhinos which have been almost decimated by poachers and the various wars what the region has experienced. The relocation of these white rhinos in this reserve intervenes to contribute to the long-term survival of this endangered species while enhancing the attractiveness of the park.
The governor of Haut-Uélé province, Christophe Nangaa, stressed that the arrival of these animals in the Garamba reserve must be made profitable, by improving tourist infrastructure to welcome visitors. The reserve will thus become a place of attraction for tourists from all over the world, who will be able to admire these white rhinos, but also other large mammals such as elephants, giraffes, hippos and buffaloes, in their natural habitat.
This initiative to protect biodiversity and conserve wildlife in the DRC is welcomed by animal experts, who oversaw this operation in partnership with Barrick Gold and other organizations committed to the preservation of the environment. Through this action, the Canadian mining company shows its determination to contribute to the fight against climate change and the war against poverty in the DRC, where it has been operating in the mining sectors for several years.