African Parks Network rewilding project

CMS South Africa’s closes landmark acquisition as lead legal advisor that created a “last minute lifeline” to 2,000 endangered African rhinos.

In recognition of World Rhino Day on 22 September CMS South Africa is proud to announce that we were very recently approached by African Parks Network to be the lead legal advisor on a critical acquisition of endangered rhinos for a rewilding project.  

African Parks, a conservation NGO that manages 22 protected areas in partnership with 12 governments across Africa, announced that it will rewild over 2,000 southern white rhino, the largest private captive rhino breeding operation in the world, in a bid to rescue and rewild them by translocating them to well-managed protected areas across the continent over the next ten years. This rewilding project made headlines at an opportune time, CMS Sustainability Month and our sustainable efforts and contributing to #ShapingOurFutureTogether.

“African Parks had no intention of being the owner of a captive rhino breeding operation with 2,000 rhino. However, we fully recognise the moral imperative of finding a solution for these animals so that they can once again play their integral role in fully functioning ecosystems,” said Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks. “The scale of this undertaking is simply enormous, and therefore daunting. However, it is equally one of the most exciting and globally strategic conservation opportunities. We will be working with multiple governments, funding partners and conservation organisations, who are committed to making this rewilding vision a reality.” 

“This is one of the largest continent-wide rewilding endeavours to occur for any species,” the NGO said, noting that these captive-bred rhinos represented nearly 15% of the world’s remaining wild rhino population.

Congratulations to all team members involved who managed to get this deal over the line: Yushanta Rungasammy, Sihle Bulose, Diann Bishunath, Andre van den Berg, Lucinda Hinxman, Kagiso Mahlangu, Ayavuya Jack, Nomaswazi Nkabinde, Lesego Modise, Charlene Ferns and Pooja Pundit!