Conservation group African Parks, which recently bought the world’s largest private captive rhino breeding operation in South Africa, on Tuesday said it plans to release at least 2,000 southern white rhinos into the wild.
The white rhinos, the second-largest land mammal, are said to be under extreme pressure, especially in South Africa, because of poaching.
The group, which manages 22 protected areas in partnership with 12 governments across Africa, acquired the 7,800-hectare (19,000-acre) farm, known as Platinum Rhino, when it was put on auction in April.
The property currently holds 2,000 southern white rhino, representing up to 15% of the world’s remaining wild population.
Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks, said the organization initially had no intention of being the owner of a captive rhino breeding operation, but “we fully recognize the moral imperative of finding a solution for these animals so that they can once again play their integral role in fully functioning ecosystems.”
African Parks said it will rewild the animals over the next 10 years to “well-managed and secure areas, establishing or supplementing strategic populations, thereby de-risking the future of the species.”
The NGO said the breeding program at the farm will be phased out, and the project will end once all the rhinos are released.
Most of the giant animals are found in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. Their numbers have fallen to below 13,000 today due to a rise in poaching for horns for illegal wildlife trade.