The Project
Volunteer with Rhinos in Uganda

Until the early 1980's, two species of rhinos were present in Uganda: the Eastern Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) and the Northern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni). Black rhinos were common in the North and North-Eastern areas of Uganda. Populations existed in Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Park. All of these animals were shot by poachers during civil unrest in the 1970's and early 80’s. The last rhino in Uganda was seen in 1982.

The Northern White Rhinoceros, once common in Northern Uganda, no longer exists here and only four animals survive in Congo’s Garamba National Park. Due to war and little ecological management these animals will no doubt soon be extinct.

In 1997, the project was established with its single mission to re-introduce the rhinos into Uganda. The reintroduction programme has three phases:

Phase I: Importation of 2 southern white rhinos to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, for educational and awareness-raising purposes.

Phase II (current phase, however only six southern white rhino are present on the property): Breeding of eastern black and southern white rhinoceros in a safe and secure environment at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Phase III: Release of rhinoceros in protected areas in their original habitat.

Phase I was accomplished in December 2001, when two southern white rhino were brought to the Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe. Preparations for phase II started in 2002, and the first southern white rhinos arrived from Kenya in July 2005. Two more whites, kindly donated by Disney Animal Kingdom, arrived after their long flight in mid-2006. Phase III will take place once areas in their former habitat are secure enough to release the rhinos, and when the rhino’s in the sanctuary have reached sufficient numbers where sustainable utilisation in the form of translocations can take place.

The strategies involved in re-introducing Uganda's indigenous rhinoceros species are:

• Introduce and establish populations of black rhinos (D.b.michaeli) in sanctuaries in safe areas outside former range, in order to restock protected areas in former sub-species range. Potential protected areas for restocking of black rhino will include, but are not limited to; Kidepo Valley NP, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburu National Park and various private sanctuaries that are hoped to soon be established.
• Introduce and establish populations of southern white rhinos (C.s.simum) in sanctuaries in safe areas outside former range, for educational and tourism purposes and as an intermediate step to:
• Introduce and establish populations of northern white rhinos (C.s.cottoni) in sanctuaries in safe areas outside former range, in order to restock protected areas in former sub-species range. Potential protected areas for restocking of northern white rhinos will include, but not be limited to, Ajai Wildlife Reserve, Murchison Falls National Park, Mt Kei Wildlife Sanctuary and Otzi Wildlife Sanctuary. Or, if the obtainment of northern white rhinos (C.s.cottoni) is not an option:
• Introduce southern white rhinos (C.s.simum) to limited areas of land outside historical/former range of northern white rhinos (C.s.cottoni).