Both good and bad news for rhinos has been reported from Zambia this week.

Starting with the positive, WWF is working to re-introduce Black rhino into the country’s wildlife areas after an absence of 30 years.

Until the 1970’s, Zambia was a black rhino stronghold with a single Luangwa National Park providing sanctuary for around 20,000 animals alone. However by the end of the 1980’s they were all gone - shot for their horns which were sold to ornamental dagger makers in Yemen and traditional Chinese herbal practitioners in the Far East.

However, a small group of Black rhino were recently re-introduced into Luangwa from South Africa and WWF now plans to expand the re-introduction programme with animals from Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

James Phiri from WWF said: “We are supporting the re-stocking and sustenance of the Black Rhino to make sure that the population of the Black Rhino is raised.”

However, whilst this is hugely positive news, there was also bad news yesterday as a group pf poachers were arrested in Kafue National Park with 5 rhino horns and 72 elephant tusks.

Zambia Wildlife Authority’s, Dr Saiwana, suspects that the animals were killed in neighbouring countries not Zambia: “The 23 black rhinoceros in North Luangwa national park are safe”.

However, the incident highlights the continued threat to rhinos across Africa and the need for continued conservation efforts to ensure the species full recovery.

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