Czech zoo to return near extinct rhinos to the wild

The Dvůr Králové zoo is to transfer four endangered Northern White rhinos to a Kenyan reserve in a last-ditch attempt to ensure the survival of the species. The zoo’s director says the transfer is a last attempt to save them in their natural habitat and could encourage the females to breed.

According to experts there are only eight remaining Northern White rhinos, a sub-species of the White Rhino, worldwide. All live in captivity, six at Dvůr Králové and two more at San Diego Zoo in the United States. The four rhinos, two males and two females should be transferred to Kenya's Ol Pejeta reserve on December 19. The Northern White rhino has been driven near to extinction because of poaching for their horns, which are much prized for use in Asian medicines.