In 1965, Rubondo Island was listed as a Game Reserve and the German Conservationist, Bernhard Grzimek, used this opportunity to introduce a wide variety of wildlife to the island including, elephants, rhinos, chimpanzees and giraffes. While the rhinos were quickly poached, the other species slowly grew in numbers. In 1977 the island became a National Park and today 80% of the original forests are in tact.