Barrick Gold is facilitating the return of white rhinos to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of its biodiversity conservation efforts.
On June 4 and 9, 2023, sixteen white rhinos landed in Garamba National Park (Haut-Uélé). This is an exceptional event which marks the return of this animal to the DRC. This project, ordered by Barrick Gold and its partner AngloGold Ashanti, aims to contribute to the conservation of Congolese biodiversity.
More than a commercial initiative, this action is beneficial for the neighboring communities and the province of Haut-Uélé. According to Stephanie Baud, Funding and Reporting Manager of African Parks, this could generate activities and jobs for local populations. The Governor of Haut-Uélé, Christophe Baseane Nangaa, also underlined the importance of this reintroduction.
The reintroduction of these white rhinos is the result of a partnership between several entities such as the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation, Garamba National Park, Beyond, African Parks and Barrick Gold Corporation.
It is also important to note that the 16 white rhinos currently present in the Garamba Park represent only half of the total number planned in the project. The next few years should welcome the other rhinos after the complete acclimatization of this first batch.
This action is an essential step in the DRC’s contribution to nature conservation. It also encourages other companies to invest in similar projects. The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country incredibly rich in biodiversity and must be protected for future generations