Rhinos Return to Uganda's Kidepo Valley After 43 Years

In a moment of profound significance for wildlife conservation in Africa, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has commenced the historic reintroduction of rhinos to Kidepo Valley National Park — marking the return of these magnificent creatures 43 years after the last rhino was sighted there. The first two of eight Southern white rhinos arrived from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on March 17, 2026.

Kidepo Valley, located in Uganda's remote northeastern corner bordering South Sudan and Kenya, was once home to thriving rhino populations. But relentless poaching during the political instability of the 1970s and early 1980s drove the species to local extinction. The last confirmed sighting of a rhino in Kidepo was in 1983, closing a devastating chapter in the park's history.

“The first two of eight Southern white rhinos arrived from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on March 17, 2026.”

The reintroduction is the culmination of decades of careful planning and preparation. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, established in 2005, has served as Uganda's primary rhino breeding and conservation center. The sanctuary has successfully bred and raised rhinos with the specific goal of eventually reintroducing them into Uganda's national parks, making this translocation a fulfillment of the sanctuary's founding mission.

The two pioneer rhinos were transported from Ziwa in a carefully managed operation involving wildlife veterinarians, conservation experts, and security personnel. Additional rhinos from the sanctuary are expected to follow in the coming months, with the total planned population of eight individuals providing a foundation for a self-sustaining herd.

Beyond the Ziwa transfers, Uganda has also arranged to receive additional rhinos from Kenya in an exchange program involving other endangered wildlife species. This international cooperation reflects the growing recognition that conservation success often depends on collaboration across national borders.

The reintroduction has been made possible by significant improvements in anti-poaching infrastructure and law enforcement at Kidepo Valley. The Uganda Wildlife Authority, working with Global Conservation and other partners, has invested in ranger training, surveillance technology, and community engagement to create the security conditions necessary for rhinos to thrive once again in the park.