The province of Haut-Uélé, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is known for its wildlife sanctuary of Garamba, a national park created to protect animal species threatened with extinction. Elephants, giraffes, hippos, buffaloes, okapis find their refuge there. A recent initiative has been to reintroduce critically endangered white rhinos there to establish a new population group. The objective is to thus contribute to the survival of this species while reinforcing the attractiveness of the park for wildlife tourism.
The white rhinoceros population restoration project in Garamba National Park has been launched since 2022 and has just taken shape. Kibali Gold Mine, a Canadian company operating and developing mining sites operating in the DRC in the Watsa and Faradje territories of the Haut-Uélé province, recently presented the park with a batch of white rhinos from South Africa. South. The first rhinos arrived on Friday June 9, 2023, and an operation to reintroduce around ten of these endangered species into their new habitat was successfully carried out by animal experts.
The project is overseen by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and African Park, in collaboration with Barrick Gold Corporation, which funds GPS collars on elephants and lions and satellite connection and veterinary care. This company is at the origin of the initiative for the protection, promotion of biodiversity and wildlife conservation advocated in the region.
Haut-Uélé Governor Christophe Nangaa said the presence of white rhinos in Garamba National Park, which occupies 20% of the province’s area, must be leveraged through the development of infrastructure for tourism, while emphasizing the need to protect local populations.
Garamba National Park, located near the border with South Sudan, is one of the oldest national parks in Africa and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The landscapes of the park include immense savannahs, grassy or wooded, interspersed with gallery forests along the rivers, as well as marshy depressions. Other large mammals also inhabit the reserve, such as elephant, northern giraffe, hippopotamus and buffalo. Tour operators, in close collaboration with local officials, offer stays to visit the park to admire the preserved animal species.
This initiative to preserve the natural habitat of endangered species is part of the war against poverty and the effort to improve the conservation of biodiversity. It also contributes to the fight against climate change and ensures the survival of the planet.