Rhinos are back in Kidepo Valley National Park, in northeastern Uganda, 43 years after these large herbivorous mammals were exterminated by poachers who sought their flesh and horns to sell on the black markets.
An operation to reintroduce these animals formally kicked off on March 17 and is being coordinated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
“This moment marks the beginning of a new chapter in the rhinos’ history in Kidepo Valley National Park,” said James Musinguzi, the executive director of the Ugandan agency on the morning of the 17th, when two southern white rhinos (Cerathoterium simum simum) were transferred from a sanctuary to the park, arriving there in the early hours of the following day. Ugandan authorities say a total of eight rhinos will be transferred as part of this reintroduction operation.”
Happening now:
Big moment for Uganda.ED-UWA Dr. James Musinguzi has flagged off the first rhino translocation to Kidepo Valley National Park.
2 rhinos translocated today, out of a planned total of 8, happening in carefully managed phases.
A historic step toward restoring… pic.twitter.com/IrZrDDPwyt
— Uganda Wildlife Authority (@ugwildlife) March 17, 2026
“The translocation of these rhinos is the first step in bringing back a species that was once part of the park’s natural heritage. Over time, more rhinos will be introduced to gradually rebuild a viable and thriving population in Kidepo,” said Musinguzi.
Between the late 1970s and the early 1980s, poachers took advantage of the instability in Uganda to indiscriminately hunt rhinos in Kidepo Valley National Park, resulting in the total extinction of the species in that area. It was in 1983 that the last rhino was killed there, specifically in the Narus River valley that traverses the park.
Efforts to bring back rhinos to that region began as early as 2005, with the creation of a captive-breeding program at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. At that time, the southern white rhino had already been declared extinct in the wild in Uganda.
History is Made:
The Rhinos arrived safely in Kidepo Valley National Park.#RhinoConservation #RhinoTranslocation #ConservingForGenerations #ExploreUganda pic.twitter.com/iGOnaP0uwe— Uganda Wildlife Authority (@ugwildlife) March 18, 2026
After decades of effort, that African country now has 61 of these rhinos, according to the Wildlife Authority, which hopes that the species’ return to the park “strengthen biodiversity conservation, improve the park’s tourism potential, and contribute to Uganda’s broader efforts to recover endangered wildlife within its historic ecosystems.”
The Ugandan agency explains that the reintroduction was preceded by a feasibility study for the action, including an assessment of the ecological quality of the habitats and the establishment of safety conditions. This study identified Kidepo Valley National Park as one of the most suitable sites for rhino reintroduction, consisting of an extensive savannah that is practically pristine.
