Southern White Rhino

 

We are passionate about rhino conservation and dedicated to further raising awareness on the plight of these amazing animals.

Orana Wildlife Park has been involved in the international captive breeding programme for southern white rhinos since 1980. Four calves have been bred at the Park including the first rhino born in New Zealand! 

Sadly, southern white rhinos are classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN primarily due to poaching to supply the illegal international rhino horn trade.

Rhinos are important animals. They have been around for millions of years and play a crucial role in their ecosystem, being key grazers helping shape the African landscape and they benefit other animals.

South Africa’s significant interventions to increase numbers of white rhino are highly commendable. Various initiatives are in place on the ground seeking to prevent the extinction of the species in its range states, such as improving security of rhino populations and increasing habitat. Existing measures are seeing rapid and encouraging population growth rates in some places, though the population continues to decline. Threats to continued growth of wild populations include a lack of land to expand into, the continued threat of poaching and dramatically increased protection costs.

supporting existing conservation action

In New Zealand and Australia, the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA) and its members, including Orana Wildlife Park, manage a genetically healthy ex-situ population of white rhino away from key threats to the species.

Modern zoos connect visitors with wildlife and inspire people to get involved in positive conservation actions through education and engagement with their audiences. Populations of rhino outside the range state help to reinforce direct conservation actions by raising public awareness beyond the species’ native borders, supporting the delivery of educational messaging and advocating for their species.

Rhino conservation centre in christchurch

A white rhino conservation centre was constructed on site to further our support for conservation efforts of this amazing species.

This facility will ensure that Orana Wildlife Park is well positioned to continue our long-term involvement in the international breeding programme for this beautiful important species.

Donate now:

Orana Wildlife Park operates as a registered charitable trust, if you would like to support our work by donating please email [email protected] or donate via our website.

Alternatively you can donate directly into our bank account. If you make a payment please email [email protected] with your name and address and we will then send you a donation receipt.

Our bank account details are:

Westpac Bank, Westfield Riccarton Branch

030823 0350554 000

Thanks for being a friend of Orana.

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Thanks to our friends at One to One Hundred for these amazing renders

Rhino conservation centre grants

We gratefully acknowledge the following organisations for their generous contributions towards our White Rhino Conservation Centre at Orana Wildlife Park.