In Uganda, conservationists have introduced Action 4 Rhinos, a new initiative to enhance the protection of the endangered rhinoceros species in the country. The initiative was launched on Sunday during the World Rhino Day celebrations at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe.
David Bakeine, the organisation’s Executive Director, emphasized that rhinos are the second heaviest land mammals, weighing up to 3,000 kilograms, following elephants. He explained that rhinos have existed for over 50 million years and were once widespread across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, with around 30 species. However, only five species remain today due to significant declines in recent decades. Uganda was home to Eastern Black Rhinos and Northern White Rhinos, but the last indigenous rhinos were sighted in 1982 and were declared extinct the following year.
Bakeine highlighted that in 1954, approximately 300 Northern White Rhinos lived in Ajai Game Reserve in northwestern Uganda, but extensive poaching reduced their numbers dramatically. Only two pairs were relocated to London and the U.S., eventually ending up in the Czech Republic and Kenya, where only two elderly females remain, too old to reproduce. However, he noted that scientific advancements have allowed for the development of embryos from these females, and if successful, they could potentially be brought back to Uganda for further conservation efforts.
“We believe that preserving rhinos could make them Uganda’s next premium product. If we can retrieve embryos from Kenya and implant them in a female rhino here, we might have the first calf in the world. Previous attempts to breed them from Kenya were unsuccessful, but I am hopeful that our environment could foster success. We must act swiftly to save the Northern White Rhinos,” Bakeine stated.
He also suggested that Uganda should consider importing Eastern Black Rhinos for ecological balance and tourism, urging stakeholders to take responsibility for making this happen. Bakeine aims to raise at least Ushs 10,000 from each of over 1,000,000 people to facilitate the importation of at least four rhinos to support conservation efforts.
Dr. Taddeo Rusoke, a conservation scientist and lecturer at Mountains of the Moon University, pointed out that returning rhinos to their natural habitats would enhance Uganda’s tourism potential on both domestic and international levels.
“Currently, the rhinos in Entebbe are at the zoo, and those in Nakasongora are in a sanctuary. We aim to increase their numbers and reintroduce them to their original game reserve, boosting tourism opportunities,” Rusoke explained.
Jacob Ochelo Onama, Chairperson of the West Nile Tourism Cluster, urged the government and conservationists to prioritize public awareness campaigns to ensure proper conservation practices as efforts to reintroduce rhinos to Ajai proceed.
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