I want to share some photos I took during that big day in Serengeti where we received five rhinos from South Africa. It was really a very big day here, and the guest of honor was H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the President of the United Republic Of Tanzania.

Click the photo to see a full slideshow of reintroduction day!

The rhinos were kept in crates and transported by air from South Africa direct to the Serengeti. There were then a handover ceremony from the Republic of South Africa’s Ministry of Wildlife to Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.

Afterward, the rhinos were transported to their new home in the Ndasiata area to start their new life. In that area they were released from the crates to stay in the bomas [enclosures where they will be prepared for their eventual reintroduction].

One of the interesting things for me that day was to see some of the things we learned at Lincoln Park Zoo in action: learning that all IUCN guidelines were followed, all measures were taken to reduce stress to the rhinos, Wildlife Without Borders was part of that exercise and seeing the rhinos’ food, just to mention a few.

Chunde Biggambo, Field Officer, Serengeti Health Initiative