Reintroduction of white rhinos to Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park

May 2025

Reintroduction of white rhinos to Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park

Singita Pamushana is the proud and grateful ecotourism partner of The Malilangwe Trust. The Malilangwe Trust is dedicated to biodiversity conservation on the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve where Singita Pamushana and Malilangwe House are situated. Some of our visiting guests this month had the great fortune of witnessing a conservation milestone – the translocation of 30 white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) to the Trust’s southern neighbour, Gonarezhou National Park.

It has been over 100 years since white rhinos roamed Gonarezhou, and this exciting introduction builds on the success of an earlier reintroduction of black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) that took place in 2021.

The Malilangwe Trust began their black and white rhino conservation programme over 25 years ago. Due to their science-based management, dedicated protection and ideal rhino habitat, the populations of both species flourished to the point that they are now able to restock rhinos to other protected areas. This fact speaks to their decades of conservation success.

Relocating rhinos is a complex endeavour that involves meticulous planning and expertise at every stage - from selecting the animals, to their capture, transportation, and release. Choosing individuals based on their physical condition and social compatibility increases the chance of a successful translocation. Information on age, sex, lineage, and social behaviour is vital to selecting a cohesive group of animals to begin a new healthy population.

For this translocation the Malilangwe scouts received a list of the selected rhinos. When one was located, an eruption of intense activity took place. It’s incredible to witness, and goes something like this:

The veterinary team prepare darts and equipment and set off by helicopter.
The pilot steers the rhino into terrain that’s accessible to the ground team’s vehicles, and once it is darted the ground team comes in.
The rhino is restrained with ropes, and a blindfold and ear plugs are applied to reduce its stress.
Any obstructing branches are cut away with an electric saw.
Oxygen is supplied, vitals are checked and monitored, measurements are taken, DNA and other samples are extracted.
The rhino is cooled by spraying water and shaded with a tarpaulin.
The horn is tipped and a tracking device inserted, then the hole covered with a sealant.
Timings are critical as the immobilising drugs interfere with the rhino’s thermoregulation, respiration and blood pressure.
An injection to partially wake the rhino is administered and the rhino is rolled onto its feet and assisted to a standing position. This takes an enormous amount of manpower and muscle.
Then it is marched, assisted and guided into an awaiting crate.
Once the blindfold and ropes are removed the crate is lifted by crane onto a truck and secured in place.
Then the truck transports the precious cargo into Gonarezhou National Park.
Upon arrival at the specially constructed bomas the crate is lowered to the ground, the immobilisation drugs are reversed, and the rhino is released into the boma.

The boma provides a sanctuary where rhinos can recover following their journey, and where food, water and safety is guaranteed. An adjustment period in the boma facilitates a smooth transition to their new home. Rhinos are social creatures with selective relationships, and it is heart-warming to see the other rhinos in the boma gather around the new arrival to see who it is, and squeal with joy when they realise it is a family member or friend they recognise.

An arrival that caught everyone by surprise one morning was seeing a newborn calf on the drone’s screen (the rhinos were monitored in the boma by a distant drone so as to minimise stress). A cow had given birth to a healthy calf even though she wasn’t expected to be so far along in her pregnancy. Thankfully the little one and its mother are doing well.

All the rhinos have been released into the Intensive Protection Zone of Gonarezhou now, and we look forward to following their story as they establish a new viable population in a Zimbabwean national park.