BARRICK PAVES THE WAY FOR REINTRODUCTION OF WHITE RHINO TO GARAMBA NATIONAL PARK Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo
PRESS RELEASE
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All amounts expressed in US dollars
BARRICK PAVES THE WAY FOR REINTRODUCTION
OF WHITE RHINO TO GARAMBA NATIONAL PARK
Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 10, 2023 – An initiative begun
by Barrick president and chief executive Mark Bristow almost 13 years ago has come to fruition
with the successful reintroduction of 16 white rhinos to the Garamba National Park in the northeast
of the DRC, where the species was last seen in 2006.
Following more than a decade of dedicated action and support, an environment has been created
where they can exist safely. The rhino arrived by aircraft from South Africa this week and have
now been released in the park where professional staff and qualified veterinarians will regularly
monitor their acclimatization.
Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) was the lead donor in the translocation as
part of its long-standing partnership with African Parks and Garamba National Park, Africa’s oldest
wildlife park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To date, Barrick has provided more than $2.5
million for tracking collars, fuel for observation planes, rescue and rehabilitation programs as well
as improvements to critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
The rhinos were sourced from the &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in Kwazulu-Natal,
South Africa, and their translocation was achieved in collaboration with the Institut Congolais pour
la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), the Congolese government and African Parks.
Garamba was one of the last strongholds of the now extinct in the wild northern white rhino. The
introduction of the near -threatened southern sub-species not only promotes the long-term
conservation of rhino in Africa by extending their range, but also creates another breeding node
for the species in a safe environment. Since African Parks assumed management of Garamba
in 2005, there has been a significant decrease in poaching and most wildlife species found there
are showing positive population increases, thanks largely to the development of alternative socio-
economic initiatives in and around the park. Additionally, rhino have historically played an
important role in regulating the structure and functioning of the park’s ecosystem, creating and
maintaining grazing lawns that support other fauna and flora and provides important ecosystem
services.
Bristow says Barrick’s continued support for Garamba is based on the company’s holistic
approach to sustainability.
BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE
“Conserving biodiversity is fundamental to planetary survival, essential to tackling climate change
and has an important role to play in the war on poverty. We strive not only to preserve and
maintain biodiversity within our permits but to partner with NGOs and other organizations, such
as African Parks and Garamba, to protect and restore critical biodiversity in some of the world’s
most precious places,” he says.
Barrick’s successful group-wide biodiversity strategy places importance on protecting areas with
high conservation value.
It is very important to understand the relationship between the natural environment and the
communities that depend on it. Garamba is one of the largest employers in the region, with over
500 full-time staff and hundreds more employees on contract, including law enforcement teams
and dedicated community personnel. The park also supports more than 9,000 community
members in entrepreneurial enterprises including beekeeping, fish and poultry farming as well as
four hospitals with a capacity of 12,000 patients.
Enquiries:
Investor and Media Relations
Kathy du Plessis
+44 20 7557 7738
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.barrick.com
BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE
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Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to our
strategy, projects, plans or future performance, constitutes “forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words “continue”, “support”, “strive”, “strategy”,
“protect”, “will”, “can” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release
contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to: Barrick’s support of the Garamba
National Park inc luding anti -poaching initiatives and other measures to support the white rhino and other wildlife
species; Barrick’s biodiversity strategy including protection of areas with high conversation value and the development
of alternative socio-economic initiatives in and around the Garamba National Park; and Barrick’s holistic approach to
sustainability and its environmental, health and safety, corporate social responsibility and human rights programs,
policies and performance, including regarding local communit y relations, economic contributions and education and
employment initiatives.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material
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at the date of this press release in light of management’s experience and perception of current conditions and expected
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