The Governments of Mozambique and South Africa are pleased to announce the planned reintroduction of rhinos to Zinave National Park in 2022. After becoming locally extinct more than 40 years ago, diversified resources company Exxaro Resources, is spearheading a project to reintroduce both the critically endangered black rhino and the near threatened white rhino to the park. Zinave, which is co-managed between Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks Foundation, will not only host the first founder population of both rhino species in a national park in Mozambique, but is also set to become the first “big five” national park in the country.

In 2002, the Governments of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe entered into a Treaty to establish the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, spanning over 100 000 km2 and incorporating five national parks, including the iconic Kruger National Park. Now, 20 years later, it is fitting to celebrate two decades of continued rewilding and restoration of this globally important cross-border conservation landscape with the introduction of these keystone species.

Since 2016, through the long-term co-management agreement between ANAC and Peace Parks, an intensive rewilding programme has reintroduced more than 2 300 game animals representing 14 different species into Zinave National Park. This has included rewilding the park with buffalo, elephant and leopard. In September last year, the first lions were also recorded in Zinave after a 40-year absence. It is assumed that the lions are migrating from one of the other parks within the transfrontier conservation area: a good indicator that nature is returning to health, and affirming yet again the vital role of connectivity between safe havens within a conservation landscape.

After a careful evaluation process by Exxaro Resources, that included in-depth feasibility studies of potential recipient sites, the Governments of Mozambique and South Africa approved the reintroduction of approximately 40 white and black rhinos to a specially constructed, 186 km2 , high security sanctuary within the 4 000 km2 Zinave National Park. The rhinos are being donated by Exxaro Resources — a longstanding donor and supporter of conservation and a Club 21 member of Peace Parks. Previously, in 2014, Exxaro Resources relocated 10 white rhinos to Botswana to bolster an existing small population, amongst its other biodiversity practice activities.

South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the Mozambique Ministry of Land andthe Environment, and Exxaro Resources, with additional funding provided by the German Postcode Lottery and MAVAFoundation, are joining hands with ANAC and Peace Parks for the translocation.“Establishment, management and relocation of wildlife species are all being done as part of Exxaro’s responsibility to these species — particularly where they are of special conservation concern,” said Mr Mxolisi Mgojo, CEO of Exxaro Resources.

“Responsible environmental stewardship is about protecting and preserving natural resources for the greater good ofall our stakeholders. Water scarcity, air pollution, biodiversity threats, hazardous waste, and climate change all posesignificant environmental and financial risks that we need to manage while delivering on other business objectives.Biodiversity loss has been identified as being at significant risk in the context of climate change.“Considering this, Exxaro has been implementing several projects toensure that its mines coexist in harmony with the natural environment. These include an Alien Invader Eradication Programme, a Wetland Rehabilitation Project, and
Biodiversity Relocation Programmes. These initiatives and programmes aim to protect indigenous flora and fauna species and support local ecosystems,” Mgojo added.(x)