Rhinos arrive at National Forest Park in Yunnan

Rhinos died out in China in the late 1950s. But in 2010 China adopted several South African white ones. On Sunday six reached the Puer National Forest Park in southwest China's Yunnan Province. When they're ready and given the all clear, they'll be released into the wild. 

After a journey of about 12 hours, six rhinos arrived at the Puer National Forest Park. One rhino will remain in the Wild Animal Zoo in Kunming because the keepers there feel it's not yet ready to be released into the wild. 

On Sunday six reached the Puer National Forest Park in southwest China's Yunnan Province. When they're ready and given the all clear, they'll be released into the wild. 

The conservationists say the six rhinos were calm and healthy throughout the long journey. Before being put into a temporary pen, the rhinos have to be transferred one by one in a small truck. Their vet finds it hard to say goodbye to these big fellows. 

Ji Yang, Vet, Yunnan Wild Animal Park, said, "I've been with these rhinos for nearly three years since they came here. We've built a close relationship. I find it hard to tear myself away from them. But I'm happy they will have a better environment to live in." 

It took about six hours to put these rhinos into the temporary pen. One rhino got frightened on being released from the cage. The park-keeper says these young rhinos will need time to build the numbers of their species back up. 

Yang Dehai, Vice Manager, Pu'Er National Forest Park, said, "The rhinos still need more than a year before they start mating. They're still young calves in the estrus stage of development. " 

The zoo authority says that if the rhinos can acclimatize to their new home here, they will let them roam freely in the park within a week. 

Hu Chao, Pu'Er, Yunnan Province, said, "About half a century ago human's incessant hunting resulted in the extinction of rhinoceroses in China. Now people are making efforts to help this animal to revive their species on this land again. Many are saying that to enjoy the view of the wild animals, we should spare no efforts to protect them." 

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