For the first time, Kenya Wildlife Service is introducing white rhinos from Lake Nakuru National Park to Nairobi National Park.

Nairobi National Park will serve as a new home for ten Southern white rhinos, who are being translocated from drought-stricken Lake Nakuru National Park. The lack of water has depleted the grasses that make up the huge herbivores’ food source, and Lake Nakuru wildlife officials fear there is too much competition and not enough food for the grass-eating pachyderms.

As part of conservation management strategy, animals are routinely moved to other locations in order to ease pressure on the environment when the ecological carrying capacity of an area has been reached – which is the case with Lake Nakuru National Park.

Nairobi National Park has not been hit as hard by the drought, and is a suitable habitat for the white rhinos – who are also expected to boost tourism dollars.

According to The Daily Nation, KWS is planning to translocate ten white rhinos. Eight have already been moved into their new home, and rangers are searching for the other two females.

Kenya is home to both species of African rhinoceros: 327 white rhino and 609 black rhino.

Here’s to Kenya Wildlife Service!

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Kenya White Rhino Translocation: Video by Rhishja Larson originally published August 30, 2009 on EcoWorldly.

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