Rwanda - June 09, 2025 Rwanda has received 70 southern white rhinos from South Africa on Monday in an effort to help restore the species' population in the region. The animals arrived in the country via a chartered Boeing 747 and were transported to the Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda, where they were settled in a temporary enclosure at a secure boma in the heart of the park to acclimate for six months. The translocation was conducted in two phases, with 35 rhinos in each stage, according to local officials. "It's a really technical exercise that we do in taking 35 rhinos from northern Kwazulu Natal and releasing them in Akagera. We did that in three days and then we did it again, three days later," said Martin Rickleton, a translocations coordinator with African Parks, a conservation organization. "This translocation is so significant to the government of Rwanda in that it's the largest within the country and even beyond for the southern white rhinos. It's not just being the largest, but also improves and grants trust that people have conservation for Rwanda, boosting our tourism and adding value to our tourism industry," said Eugene Mutangana, managing director of Conservation of Rwanda Development Board. The translocation is the second of its kind to Akagera. In 2021, 30 southern white rhinos were brought to the park, also from South Africa. That population has since grown to 41. Local officials are optimistic that the latest arrivals will boost genetic diversity and help create a robust population capable of supporting broader regional conservation goals. "It is fair to say the rhinos in southern Africa are under great threat from poaching and illegal trade. Now that we have a herd established here, we will have it established in the coming months and years, it can form a long-term gene pool in the event of a disaster elsewhere on the African continent," said Martin Rickleton. Akagera National Park, spanning 1,122 square kilometers, is the largest protected wetland in the central Africa. This translocation of southern white rhinos was followed by the arrival of critically endangered black rhinos from Europe. "This park actually can carry close to 1,000 southern white rhinos, so the capacity is not an issue. And we actually pray that this grows. We're not intending to bring in any since this is a good population that can actually breed and then grow," said Eugene Mutangana. SHOTLIST: Eastern Province, Rwanda - June 9, 2025 1. Plane landing; 2. Crane working; 3. Various of trucks transporting rhinos; 4. Various of rhino going out of truck; 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Rickleton, translocations coordinator, African Parks (ending with shot 6): "It's a really technical exercise that we do in taking 35 rhinos from northern Kwazulu Natal and releasing them in Akagera. We did that in three days and then we did it again, three days later."; 6. Crane working; 7. Truck transporting rhinos; 8. Rhino eating grass; 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Eugene Mutangana, Managing Director of Conservation, Rwanda Development Board (starting with shot 8): "This translocation is so significant to the government of Rwanda in that it's the largest within the country and even beyond for the southern white rhinos. It's not just being the largest, but also improves and grants trust that people have conservation for Rwanda, boosting our tourism and adding value to our tourism industry."; 10. Various of rhino eating grass; 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Rickleton, translocations coordinator, African Parks (starting with shot 10/overlaid with shot 12): "It is fair to say the rhinos in southern Africa are under great threat from poaching and illegal trade. Now that we have a herd established here, we will have it established in the coming months and years, it can form a long-term gene pool in the event of a disaster elsewhere on the African continent."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 12. Rhino eating grass; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 13. Various of rhinos eating grass; 14. SOUNDBITE (English) Eugene Mutangana, Managing Director of Conservation, Rwanda Development Board (starting with shot 13): "This park actually can carry close to 1,000 southern white rhinos, so the capacity is not an issue. And we actually pray that this grows. We're not intending to bring in any since this is a good population that can actually breed and then grow."; 15. Gate of Akagera National Park. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]