Uganda Reintroduces Rhinos to Kidepo Valley After 43-Year Absence
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has launched the historic reintroduction of Southern White Rhinos to Kidepo Valley National Park, with the first two animals translocated from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on 17 March 2026 - marking the species' return to the landscape more than four decades after the last rhino was killed in the area in 1983. A total of eight rhinos will be moved to the park as part of the initiative, which is aligned with Uganda's National Rhino Conservation Strategy and informed by a UWA feasibility study that identified Kidepo as one of the country's most suitable sites for wild rhino reintroduction. Extensive infrastructure has been put in place ahead of the translocation, including perimeter fencing, ranger facilities, water infrastructure, and monitoring systems within a secure sanctuary where the animals will be closely managed during their initial adaptation period.
The reintroduction has been made possible through partnerships with Wild Landscapes East Africa, the Northern Rangelands Trust, and the Uganda Conservation Foundation, which provided technical, financial, and logistical support. Uganda's rhino recovery programme dates to 2005, when a breeding effort was established at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary following the species' extinction in the wild; the importation of eight additional rhinos from South Africa late last year has helped bring the country's total population to 61. The return of rhinos to Kidepo – one of Uganda's most intact savannah ecosystems – is expected to strengthen ecological integrity and resilience in the park while also enhancing its appeal as a wildlife tourism destination.
Source: Uganda Wildlife Authority
