Absent for two decades, white rhinos have been reintroduced to Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to a statement issued by African Parks, the park lost its last northern white rhino to poaching in early 2006 when wildlife populations were declining and armed groups were active in the region.
At the end of 2005, African Parks entered into a co-management agreement with the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation to stabilise the landscape and restore wildlife populations.
Trucks carrying southern white rhinos crossed Garamba in December 2025 and January 2026.
Philippe Decoop, Garamba National Park Director, said: “On the ground, the difference is clear. Improved security, strengthened community relations and the ability to carry out complex operations safely are the result of years of consistent partnership. The return of the rhinos is a powerful symbol of how far Garamba has come.”
African Parks CEO Peter Fearnhead credited the park’s recovery to partnership, which enabled the reintroduction of white rhino to the region. Although managing the ecosystem remains an ongoing task, the reintroduction is an important step towards restoring the park’s ecological balance and supporting conservation-based economies, he said.
