In what many consider to be one of Uganda's most significant conservation events in decades, four southern white rhinos from Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch have arrived safely at Kidepo Valley National Park, marking the first time rhinos have walked this landscape in over 40 years.
The translocation was carried out in two stages over the course of three days. For each operation, the rhinos were sedated in the early morning at Ziwa, checked by the veterinary team, horn-notched for identification, and loaded by crane into transport crates. The convoy travelled under full Uganda Wildlife Authority security and veterinary escort, flagged off by UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi. On 17 March, two young males, Seiji (6 years) and Whittaker (6 years), left Ziwa at around 11am and arrived at Kidepo at approximately 7pm after a 600-kilometre journey north. Two days later, on 19 March, Rae Ruparelia (5 years) and an unnamed calf, a younger brother to Whittaker, followed the same route. They departed Ziwa at 9:30am and arrived at Kidepo at around 6pm, after some delays along the way to ensure the animals' welfare throughout the journey. On arrival, the crates were offloaded and positioned at the release site within the sanctuary in the Narus Valley.
Photos: Joshua Roy/Ziwa
For Ziwa, watching these animals leave was the fulfilment of a founding mission more than two decades in the making. Ziwa started with six southern white rhinos sourced from Kenya and the United States and built a thriving population through careful breeding and round-the-clock protection by dedicated ranger teams and the Roy family. As Ziwa noted, this is a moment of intense pride, but also a touch of sadness. Where Ziwa has lost four of its favourite sons, Kidepo and the Karamojong people have gained something special.
Kidepo is now the third site in Uganda to hold rhinos. Earlier this year, four rhinos were translocated from Ziwa to Ajai Wildlife Reserve, marking the first return of rhinos to that landscape in decades. The arrival of rhinos in Kidepo takes Uganda's rhino range expansion further, creating another founding population in a new landscape and reducing the country's long-standing dependence on a single site.
Photos: Oliver Bass
Early reports from the monitoring team confirm that all four are feeding, moving freely within the sanctuary and showing no signs of distress. Four more rhinos are expected to arrive, bringing the total founding population at Kidepo to eight. Planning for the next translocation is ongoing and hoped to be achieved before the end of 2026.
The translocation has been led by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, supported by Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Uganda Conservation Foundation, WildLandscapes East Africa, Great Plains Conservation and the Great Plains Foundation, the Rhino Recovery Fund, Northern Rangelands Trust, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Platcorp Foundation, Savannah Wildlife Veterinary Services, Save the Elephants, Mara Elephant Project, Kenya Wildlife Service, and a number of private donors. The Morungole Community Conservancy, representing the Ik and Dodoth communities, continues to play a central role through daily surveillance, tsetse monitoring and fence maintenance.
After four decades of absence, rhinos are back in Kidepo. Although white rhinos themselves are new to the area, they’re creating the conditions necessary to return black rhinos to their historic home. The work to keep them all there is just beginning.
Photos: Oliver Bass
