After months of preparation five European Eastern Black Rhinos landed safely in Rwanda on Monday 24 June. The rhinos were hand raised in three different European countries where they prepared for this long journey for quite a length of time. They are 3 females, Jasmina and her niece Jasiri Perla both born in Czech Republic, and Olmoti born in Zurich (SW) and 2 males, Manny born in Czech Republic and Mandela born in Denmark.

All of them lived together for some time in Dvur Kralove (CZ) with the aim of getting used to each other and to make their future life together in transitional Boma easier.

Probably one of their direct descendant will be released in the future in the wild in Akajera National Park.

As far as we know only Manny and Jasmina were not allowed to get too near to each other, since they are both in breeding age, and coordinators didn’t want here to be pregnant during the long traveling phase.

This has been the biggest transfer of rhinos outside Europe and the aim is to repopulate Rwanda with Black Rhinos, since the country lost all of the population at the end of the previous century.

Akajera National Park has received in 2017 18 rhinos. It is hoped that all the 5 rhinos that just arrived will contribute to the future population of the reserve.

Even if some of our readers do not agree with this move, it is important to highlight that this translocation was possible because the European meta-population of Black Rhinos is healthy and self- sustaining. This transfer should not be seen as a reduction of Black Rhinos in Europe but as a step forward to use part of it to reinforce the native African population, from which all European rhinos descend.