Johannesburg - A donation of 14 black rhino to Botswana has been approved by the North West executive council (Exco), premier Thandi Modise's office said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said in a statement eight rhino cows and six bulls would be sent to Botswana to help grow the rhino population there.
Once the Botswana population stabilised, half of the offspring from the South African rhino would be returned to the North West.
“In line with the agreement endorsed by Exco and the department of water and environmental affairs, all capture and translocation costs of the rhinos - estimated to cost about R1-million - would be borne by the ministry of environment wildlife and tourism of the Republic of Botswana.”
In a similar initiative, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust in Botswana previously received a joint donation of 13 white rhinos from the North West Parks and Tourism Board and the South African National Parks Board.
These 13 rhino had been breeding, and there were now 48. Half of the offspring now belonged to the North West government. - Sapa