Black rhinos released into wild

BBC News 2 Oct 08;

For the first time in more than 25 years, captive-bred black rhinos have been released back into the wild.

Experts have hailed it as a landmark step for African wildlife conservation.

Black rhinoceroses were once widespread in Africa, but in recent years these huge horned creatures have suffered dramatic declines, thanks to poaching and habitat loss.

In particular, Kenya has suffered huge losses, with numbers plummeting from an estimated 20,000 in the 1970s to some 500 today.

Those that remained were confined to sanctuaries.

The Kenya Wildlife Service has been working with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to revive rhino numbers. And now they are confident enough to begin releasing these animals back into the wild.

The BBC's Karen Allen was there to watch the first batch being returned to their natural habitat - and met some of the people who have made it all happen.