Last November, the Uganda Wildlife Authority presented a detailed plan outlining the steps to bring back the white rhinoceros to Ajai Wildlife Reserve, its native habitat, with the goal to complete the reintroduction by 2025.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) began the process of reintroducing white rhinos to Ajai Wildlife Reserve, located in the West Nile region in the north-west of the country, the local media revealed on Monday.
This follows the successful two-day relocation of 200 kobs and 50 buffaloes to the reserve, which the UWA finished last Friday. The purpose of the exercise is to clear the area of overgrown vegetation and facilitate the repopulation of the wildlife reserve prior to the introduction of Southern White Rhinoceros, the media reported.
“By reintroducing common species such as kobs and buffaloes, UWA aims to enhance the reserve’s capacity to manage diverse wildlife populations effectively. Rhinoceros are grazers, they eat the grass but the kobs and buffaloes we have taken there eat everything including tree branches,” Bashir Hangi, the UWA spokesman said, as cited by the media.
Moreover, the reintroduction of kobs and buffaloes enhances the diversity of the reserve’s itinerary for tourists.
“We don’t want to keep the rhinos there alone, we want a variety of animals if we are to improve the tourism of the area. We cannot look at rhinoceros alone,” Hangi reportedly added.
Furthermore, the local media also found out that transferring rhinos to Ajai Wildlife Reserve will alleviate the already overburdened Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which is located in central Uganda. The sanctuary currently exceeds its maximum capacity of 40 rhinos, so excess animals have to be relocated to other areas.
“We want to keep Ziwa as a breeding space. So, we shall not take away all the rhinos, we shall leave behind some so that they can continue breeding. Once the young ones are grown, we distribute them to other bigger spaces,” Hangi was quoted as saying.
