Exciting news from Zimbabwe! For the past few years, a group of conservationists have been working to bring back a population of rhino into the Hwange National Park. Since the last remaining white rhino was poached from the Hwange National Park in 2007, these great animals have been sorely missed from the landscape.
The good news is that in 2022 Imvelo Lodges partnered with the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative (CRIC) to reestablish rhino into the Hwange National Park, and they have gained two new members to their crush! Welcome Asenze and Mlevu!
The CRIC aims to sustainably reintroduce rhino while simultaneously benefiting local communities. Involvement of the community is of paramount importance and the initiative ensures that local people gain socio-economic benefits from rhino-related tourism, with 100% of funds generated from rhino viewing going back to the communities.
Their mission started in 2022 when Thuza and Kusasa arrived in the reserve, they are now thriving under the protection of the Cobras, a community-based wildlife protection unit. The Cobras are a team of scouts from the surrounding villages who have been trained in first aid, conservation education, communications, weapons handling, conservation law and rhino monitoring. Their role is to effectively support and protect the area's wildlife whilst reducing human-wildlife conflicts.
There was great excitement in September when the reserve welcomed two new rhinos. Asenze and Mlevu (Asenze meaning "let's do" in Ndebele and Mlevu being named after the Ward Headman, one of the projects most dedicated members) journeyed 700km across Zimbabwe to their new home from Malilangwe Trust in the south east of the country. The were greeted by hundreds of people including community members, schoolchildren and Imvelo guests. The Cobra team have reported that they are settling in well and have been seen enjoying mud baths and exploring their new home.
Visitors to Imvelo Safari Lodges in the Hwange National Park can support the initiative by participating in educational rhino tours, where proceeds are donated to local villages.
Welcome Asenze and Mlevu, we look forward to hearing more about this fantastic project that benefits both conservation and community.
