Bid to save Africa’s Northern white rhino from extinction

Dr Brooks, the Natal Parks Board Head of Scientific Services, chaired a workshop towards the end of 1995 in Florida, USA, where major stakeholders met to develop a conservation strategy to improve the chances of survival of the subspecies. As an outcome of the three-day workshop, conservation authorities in Zaire agreed in principal to work closely with the specialist group in planning for a second wild population of northern white rhino elsewhere in Africa. A further nine northern white rhino are held in captivity at the Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic, and four cit the San Diego Zoo in California. However, these are not currently breeding. Both zoos have committed themselves to assisting in plans to save the sub-species from extinction. Two females will be flown back from the US to join the nucleus group in the Czech Republic. These animals are to be moved into a more free-ranging situation where conditions will hopefully stimulate breeding.