The Department of National Parks and Wildlife says it has boosted security in order to protect Malawi’s existing rhino populations.

The department’s director Brighton Kumchedwa said this following the arrival of 17 black rhinos from South Africa which have been released into Liwonde National Park.

African Parks Chief Executive Officer Peter Fearnhead said the rhinos were transported from South Africa on Monday, in one of the largest international black rhino translocations to date.

Fearnhead said the translocation was carried out in conjunction with WWF South Africa, Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

He also said Africa Parks was moving two of Liwonde’s existing rhinos to Majete Wildlife Reserve and another from Majete to Liwonde, all in an effort to improve genetic diversity in these two parks and create a healthy population of rhinos for Malawi.

Director of National Parks and Wildlife Brighton Kumchedwa said they have put in place extensive measures to protect the rhinos which include aerial surveillance by helocopters, daily ranger patrols and live-time tracking.

African Parks has been working in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to secure and restore Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park since 2003 and 2015 respectively.