Rhinos Make a Comeback in Uganda 40 Years After Extinction

Thu Mar 19 2026 20:24:28 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

For the first time in over four decades, rhinos are returning to Uganda's Kidepo Valley National Park, marking a significant step in conservation efforts following their extinction in the region due to poaching.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has successfully reintroduced two southern white rhinos to Kidepo Valley National Park, the first step in restoring a once-thriving population. Poaching events led to the extinction of rhinos in Uganda by 1983. This initiative aims to revitalize the ecosystem, although challenges remain, including ongoing threats from poaching. Conservationists note the importance of establishing secure habitats and increasing awareness around wildlife protection.

For the first time in more than four decades, rhinos have returned to Uganda's Kidepo Valley National Park, where poachers once wiped them out for their horns and meat.

On Tuesday, two southern white rhinos became the first of eight animals intended to re-establish a population in the park. The last rhino there was killed in 1983, according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), responsible for the relocation.

During that period of turmoil, hunters slaughtered every rhino in Kidepo and across Uganda's other national parks, which had once supported around 700 of the massive animals, as reported by Reuters.

Their drastic loss resulted in the species' complete extinction in the wild within Uganda.

This moment marks the beginning of a new rhino story for Kidepo Valley National Park, UWA's executive director James Musinguzi stated. He emphasized that the translocation of these rhinos is vital in restoring a species that once formed part of the park's natural heritage.

Musinguzi noted that the initiative is guided by a study assessing habitat suitability, ecological needs, and security conditions, identifying Kidepo as one of the best locations to reintroduce the species.

The UWA has ensured the establishment of a secure rhino sanctuary featuring perimeter fencing, access roads, and monitoring technologies to safely protect the animals.

The two rhinos were transported to Kidepo from a privately-owned ranch in Nakasongola, about 100 km (62 miles) north of Kampala. The ranch has been breeding rhinos since 2005 when it imported four southern white rhinos from a Kenyan game reserve.

However, poaching still poses challenges in Uganda, with authorities arresting and prosecuting individuals involved in the illegal wildlife trade. The rhino horn still commands a high price in illicit markets due to its alleged medicinal properties and status symbol status in various Asian countries.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), southern white rhinos are classified as near threatened with their populations declining, and a 2020 survey indicated just over 10,000 existing individuals.