A plan might be close to approval to send dozens of endangered rhinoceroses to Australia from southern Africa, where poachers are depleting their numbers.

Australian Rhino Project founder Ray Dearlove said a staggering number of rhinos were being killed by poachers for their prized horns.

“[Our plan] is to have a breeding herd of rhinos here in Australia which would potentially act as an assurance against their extinction in the wild,” he told 891 ABC Adelaide.

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Mr Dearlove said up to 1300 rhinos per year were being killed, even though authorities had removed their horns in an effort to remove the incentive for poaching.

He said the poachers still shot rhinos and dug out the remaining part of their horn because of the money they could make on the black market.

The Rhino Project founder said there would be a meeting in Canberra on Wednesday focused on biosecurity requirements and he had his fingers crossed there might be an all-clear given.

“The biggest concern here with the Australian government and the Department of Agriculture specifically is to ensure that there is no contamination in any sense of flora and fauna here in Australia – we’re obviously totally supportive of that,” he said.

“I’m hoping we will get direction or … the all-clear to proceed, it’s been a long journey.”

A significant number of rhinos might be moved into Monarto open-range zoo, south-east of Adelaide, Zoos SA chief executive Elaine Bensted said, possibly within the next few months.

“A lot depends on the quarantine approvals,” she said.

“The Commonwealth Government of Australia have been very, very supportive of this project … assuming that all goes well then there needs to be the approval process for quarantine facilities in Africa … then [rhinos] would be freighted over.

“We’re hopeful that will happen this year – aiming for August, September all going well.”

Monarto Zoo might get 30 new rhinos

Ms Bensted said as many as 80 rhinoceroses might be shipped to Australia.

“When you look at zoos across Australia that have the space to hold such a large number, Monarto’s going to be key to that,” she said.

“We could be talking sort of around 30 rhinos, which would be a fantastic sight for people to be able to see.”

Poachers target rhinos even after authorities remove their horns. Photo: AAP

Mr Dearlove said one of the biggest costs would be transporting the animals from southern Africa to Australia.

“The plan is to shift them in tens – they’re very, very big animals, they weigh a lot and it’s an expensive exercise,” he said.

“They could come by sea, but the stress on the animals is too much so they get crated … and get used to being in crates and then sedated and then there are at least two vets with them on the aeroplane ensuring their safety.”

The first rhinos would go into quarantine at Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo in New South Wales, he said, then some would be moved to various locations, including Monarto.

“The eventual aim, all being well, is we can reintroduce the animals into South Africa or Africa as the need requires if they sort their problems out with poaching,” he said.

Fencing work is underway at Monarto Zoo to enlarge the open-range area and allow more rhinos to join those already being kept at the South Australian zoo.

Ms Bensted said seven rhinos were first brought to Monarto in 2002 and some were then shared with the Dubbo zoo.