Two UK safari parks have come together to make a significant conservation effort by orchestrating a rhino swap to save their species from extinction. In this unprecedented move, Bonnie, a Southern white rhino weighing a hefty two tonnes, made her way to West Midlands Safari Park, while her brother Granville headed to Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire. Born with an eight-year gap to mother Ailsa at West Midlands, this swap marked the first-ever meeting between the siblings, thanks to the conservation initiative.
Bonnie joined a herd of eight at West Midlands, where she is set to make new friends and settle in, while Granville is off to Woburn to begin his journey as a breeding bull. The aim of this swap is to maintain genetic diversity among white rhinos, which are currently facing the threat of extinction. Lisa Watkins, the head keeper of ungulates at West Midlands Safari Park, shared mixed feelings about Granville’s departure, reminiscing about his growth from a young calf to the character he is today. While they will miss him, the team is happy that he has gone to a familiar environment to become a breeding bull and contribute to the future conservation of the species.
At Woburn Safari Park, Bonnie has been taking her time to settle in and meet her sister Ailsa for the first time. Initially, there was some sibling rivalry between the two as they engaged in a brief tussle before settling down to enjoy some hay together. Both Ailsa and Bonnie come from Blair Drummond Safari Park in Scotland, where they were born to Dot and Graham, a successful breeding pair. The park’s Animal Collection Manager, Kristine Fennessy Alexander, expressed pride in the park’s breeding programme and the success it has achieved in contributing to rhino conservation efforts.
The Southern white rhinos are currently labeled as ‘near threatened’ by the IUCN, with an estimated 16,000 left in the wild. Despite a significant resurgence in their population since the brink of extinction, this subspecies remains at risk due to poaching. The collaboration between these two safari parks highlights the crucial role that zoos and safari parks play in the conservation of endangered species like the white rhino.
This heartwarming reunion between Bonnie and Ailsa not only showcases the importance of maintaining genetic diversity within the species but also emphasizes the strong family ties that span across generations in the animal kingdom. Visitors to these safari parks will have the opportunity to witness this reunion and learn more about the conservation efforts being made to protect these magnificent creatures for future generations to come.