Rhino Rewild, unpacked. African Parks’ Don Jooste joins Rewilding the World with @BenGoldsmith for a conversation that gets into the thinking, complexity and ambition behind the project. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts #RhinoRewild #RhinoConservation #SouthernWhiteRhino #AfricanParks

Rhino conservation is one of Africa's greatest collaborative conservation stories. In this World Rhino Day interview with Xinhua, Donovan Jooste, Rhino Rewild’s Project Manager, highlights the importance of long-term partnerships, shared responsibility, and coordinated action across the continent to secure a future for rhinos. Read more: bit.ly/4rrMqql

3 Years In. 745 Rhino Rewilded. 19 Landscapes. More than 550,000 Hectares. And Counting. This World Rhino Day marks three years since African Parks took responsibility for approximately 2,000 southern white rhino and began an ambitious ten-year effort to rewild them into secure, well-managed protected areas across Africa. Since then, 745 rhino have been moved into 19 recipient areas across four countries. Across these populations, 89 calves have been born. There have also been losses along the way. Rewilding at this scale is complex. It means establishing rhino in different landscapes and environments, managing disease and security risks, learning from both successes and losses, and adapting as new information emerges. And none of it happens alone. Governments, protected areas and conservation organisations are taking on the long-term responsibility of receiving and managing these rhino, working alongside African Parks to build resilient populations for the future. Three years into Rhino Rewild, we are sharing what this work is teaching us about what it takes to move from rescue to rewilding at scale across Africa. Read the full story: bit.ly/3VnRekH 📷 Wiki West #WorldRhinoDay #RhinoRewild #SouthernWhiteRhino #RhinoConservation #AfricanParks

In the lead-up to World Rhino Day, we’re shining a light on Rhino Rewild and the journey so far. What began in 2023 with approximately 2,000 southern white rhino is now an ambitious, continent-wide rewilding effort, working with partners to establish and strengthen rhino populations across Africa. This film takes us back to where the journey began, and to the scale of the opportunity ahead. Tomorrow, on World Rhino Day, we’ll share more about what three years of Rhino Rewild have taught us: the progress, the challenges, the partnerships and the lessons informing what comes next. For now, revisit the Rhino Rewild story and help support the next chapter. Explore Rhino Rewild and donate: bit.ly/4y9u2oY #WorldRhinoDay #RhinoRewild #SouthernWhiteRhino #RhinoConservation #AfricanParks

It's happening right now. Rangers and staff from all 24 protected areas are running the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, thousands of us across the continent, 21km in solidarity with those who conserve Africa's natural landscapes every day. This is African Parks united. @TuskTrust #WildlifeRangerChallenge #WRC #ForWildlifeRangers #RangersAndStaff #AfricanParks #TogetherForConservation #RangersUnite

Challenge accepted. Tomorrow, rangers and staff from African Parks' 24 protected areas across Africa take on the Wildlife Ranger Challenge. Each running 21km across the remote landscapes they work in, united in solidarity with those who dedicate their lives to conserving nature. @TuskTrust #WildlifeRangerChallenge #AfricanParks #ForWildlifeRangers #RangersAndStaff #TogetherForConservation

Sulcata or African spurred tortoises that wander into villages close to the Aouk-Keita Landscape in Chad might previously have been at risk from the illegal wildlife trade, or have faced competition for grazing from livestock. Today, an initiative begun by community members is resulting in more eco-positive outcomes for the biodiversity of Aouk-Keita, and for individual tortoises. The villages contact the Aouk-Keita conservation team, who carefully transfer each tortoise to the Mandjo Conservation Area, which is known to have a naturally occurring population of these large chelonians. "I decided it would be best to hand them over to the African Parks team, so they will be better protected and able to live in better conditions," explains Idriss Abakar, a farmer from Haraze who joined the initiative. In July 2026, six sulcata tortoises were safely released into the Mandjo Conservation Area, where they can now contribute to the viability of the local population, and play a role in maintaining the integrity of this Sahelian ecosystem.

What mammals would you expect to find living wild amongst the boulders, rock arches and canyons of Chad’s Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve? Perhaps not patas monkeys, yet they appear to be quite at home in this beautiful yet challenging landscape. Watch the video to enjoy seeing how they have adapted to Ennedi’s unique terrain. 📹 Orozi Hangata #Chad #Tchad #EnnediNaturalAndCulturalReserve #ENCR #BiodiversityConservation #AfricanParks

Rebuilding Bazaruto's coral reefs, fragments at a time. Warming seas are putting the archipelago's reefs under pressure. When the water stays too warm, corals lose the algae that feed and colour them and they turn white, an event known as bleaching. What's left breaks down to bare rubble, and new coral has nothing stable to settle on. In July, 1,500 fragments were collected from Two Mile Reef and cable-tied to Reef Stars: hexagonal steel frames coated in resin and sand, pinned to the seabed with steel stakes and linked into a web across it. One hundred are now installed off the northern side of Santa Carolina, a small island between Bazaruto and the mainland. Another 500 will follow over the coming months. This restoration is a partnership between Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, Wild Impact and Mars Global. #Bazaruto #CoralRestoration #ReefStars #AfricanParks #Mozambique

Visit Bangweulu, where the water meets the sky Discover one of Africa's most extraordinary wetland ecosystems, home to the iconic, Endangered shoebill, thousands of endemic black lechwe, more than 400 bird species, and thriving fishing communities whose lives are intertwined with the rhythms of the wetlands. Bangweulu offers a range of accommodation, activities and wildlife experience – all to be found on the brand-new Bangweulu Wetlands website. Explore the new website: visitbangweulu.org/ 📹: Charlotte Keast #BangweuluWetlands #VisitBangweulu #VisitZambia #ZambiaTravel #Shoebill #BirdingAfrica #ConservationTourism #AfricanParks

Numbers of tiang antelope (Damaliscus lunatus tiang) in Zakouma National Park, Chad, are on the rise, as shown by biennial surveys and supplementary monthly counts. This is good news for the antelope themselves, and for the Zakouma ecosystem: migrating and grazing antelope promote grass regrowth as they move through the landscape.  Unpredictable rainfall patterns and seasonal flooding largely dictate the movements of the tiang (herds alternatively follow receding waters to graze, or retreat to higher ground during seasonal flooding). The tiang depend on some of the same resources as livestock belonging to transhumant herders, which highlights the importance of working together with local communities to ensure sustainable access to the resources that both wildlife and cattle need. Different subsets of Zakouma’s tiang migrate in different ways, with some herds remaining in a very localised area, while others cross greater distances that see them leave the protected area. 📸 Matt Todd Michael Viljoen #ZakoumaNationalPark #Chad #Tchad #Migration #BiodiversityConservation #WildlifeMonitoring #CommunityDevelopment

Celebrating Resilience on the Akagera Ultra Trail On Saturday, 5 September, the plains, papyrus-fringed lakes and the many, many (!) hills of Akagera National Park in Rwanda became the stage for grit, perseverance and teamwork. Rangers and staff from across the 24 protected areas gathered in the park to take part in this year's Ultra Trail. The idea for what is now an annual event within the organisation, was born 11 years ago, when a group of rangers and staff ran a race in northern Chad in memory of six rangers who were tragically killed in Zakouma National Park in 2012. More than 80 participants, including park management, rangers, and senior leadership, run together in two distances - 45km and 100km. Rangers came from nearly every park, competing in teams of two, with the goal of finishing together to qualify for a podium spot. This year temperatures were well over 35C, and the while the ‘land of a thousand hills’ proved testing for all, the views were magnificent. The Akagera Ultra Trail followed African Parks' annual Management Meeting, bringing together over senior colleagues from across the organisation, representing over 20 nationalities, to reconnect and share learnings. Many of these colleagues joined in for the Ultra Trail, celebrating the camaraderie across the many cultures, experiences and backgrounds that make up the organisation. ✨ Considering the conditions, the 100km times this year were outstanding, and we say a huge congratulations to everyone who competed! 🏆 100km Results 🥇 Team Nyungwe National Park Robert Muhire & Sylvestre Hakizimana - 9:39:50 🥈 Team Akagera National Park Fabrice Uwizeye & Dieudonne Uwimana - 9:53:24 🥉 Team W National Park Abdou Moussa, Serge Akpansonon & Tangambori Yoa -10:59:32 #Akagera #Rwanda #Conservation #AfricanParks

Research That Works Both Ways The African Parks Twinning Programme is built on a simple exchange: when international researchers and institutions conduct research in landscapes managed by African Parks, national students and early-career professionals are included, creating opportunities for mentorship, skills transfer, practical experience and further study. The exchange works both ways. National researchers contribute their knowledge of local ecosystems, species and context, making research more relevant and helping ensure that what is learned is retained and applied. In Zambia, James Chitalu has contributed to research and monitoring across Bangweulu Wetlands. In the Republic of Congo, Gloire Jorrel Kibongui supports the monitoring of forest elephants, gorillas and chimpanzees in Odzala-Kokoua. Both are now preparing for further study that will build on their work in these landscapes. Read their stories:bit.ly/4x0Hmuh #ConservationScience #AfricanLeadership #ResearchPartnerships #AfricanParks

Putting a regional land-use plan into practice takes mobility, reliable technology, long-term partnership and sustained funding. Through revenue generated by the sale of carbon credits from the Chinko REDD+ project, Chinko Conservation Area has handed over 20 motorcycles, 16 computers and supporting equipment to the Ministry of Forestry Economy, Wildlife and Aquatic Resources of Central African Republic (CAR). The equipment will support Ministry teams working across four prefectures as they advance the Spatial Planning Master Plan for eastern CAR. Attended by Minister Gervais Mbata and representatives from the Ministry and Chinko, the handover reflects a partnership that has connected conservation with practical investment in the region for over 12 years. #CentralAfricanRepublic #Chinko #CarbonFinance #ConservationPartnership

This World Primate Day, we’re celebrating the diversity of Africa’s primates. That diversity is evident in Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park, which has 13 different primate species, some of which have been observed in large groups. The Ruwenzori colobus monkey, for example, has been recorded in a supergroup comprising up to 750 individuals. Sightings of large groups like this – as well as of strong, stable family groups of eastern chimpanzee – indicate that these primates are thriving in Africa’s oldest surviving forest. #NyungweNationalPark #NyungweForest #Rwanda #WorldPrimateDay #Primates #Research #Conservation #AfricanParks

652 Million DNA Sequences Reveal How Protected Ecosystems Function Which species are present within a landscape, what are they eating, and how do they share resources? The Molecular Ecological Network Assessment (MENA) combines DNA recovered non-invasively from faecal, soil and water samples with ecological network analysis. This allows researchers to detect species, investigate diets, reconstruct feeding relationships and examine how ecological communities are organised. Across 55,272 km² in five landscapes, 652 million DNA sequences were recovered, documenting 517 vertebrate species, 4,192 plant taxa and 6,601 feeding relationships, while also adding species that were missing from existing park inventories. Across a combined measure of community diversity, ecological roles and resource use, all five parks showed an overall healthier signal than their neighbouring unmanaged areas. Each landscape, however, revealed its own story. Read the full story: bit.ly/4xqpSIO MENA was made possible through the support of Allen Family Philanthropies and delivered with research and institutional partners across Africa and internationally. #ConservationScience #eDNA #EcologicalNetworks #BiodiversityMonitoring #AfricanParks

Shaping the Future of the Great Nile Migration Landscape For generations, communities across this landscape have lived alongside the migrations, with wildlife, seasonal rhythms and natural resources deeply woven into everyday life. Today, communities, traditional leaders, government and park teams are working together on locally-led approaches to managing wildlife and natural resources for the future. In some areas, communities are drawing on customary governance systems, adapting traditional laws to respond to contemporary conservation challenges. Read the story: bit.ly/4zIfNZn

African wild dog are under pressure across their remaining range, but recent monitoring results from Chinko Conservation Area in CAR provide grounds for optimism. Chinko is a critical refuge for this apex predator – the last protected landscape in Central-West-Africa where they can still be found. Chinko is home to an estimated several hundred African wild dog – a population that has proved remarkably resilient, and which now seems to be rebounding. A July sighting of a pack of 12 African wild dog (including five pups) suggests that ongoing biodiversity conservation work aimed at stabilising wildlife populations within Chinko is contributing to a welcome uptick in numbers of these carnivores. To learn more about African wild dog in Chinko Conservation Area, read our latest blog: bit.ly/3UWbnxZ #ChinkoConservationArea #CAR #WorldWildDogDay #BiodiversityConservation #EcosystemRestoration #AfricanParks