Health and Environment
HARARE – In a significant boost for wildlife conservation, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has successfully translocated 74 large herbivores to the Matusadona National Park.
The operation, conducted in July 2025 in partnership with the Matusadona Conservation Trust, is a cornerstone of efforts to fully restore the ecological integrity of the park.
ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the move, stating that 50 African buffalo and 10 common eland were moved from Tsetse Island on Lake Kariba, while 14 sable antelope were relocated from the Sibilobilo Safari Area along the Zambezi River.
“The Authority is pleased to announce the completion of these wildlife translocations,” Farawo said. He emphasized that thorough feasibility assessments were conducted to ensure the long-term sustainability and ecological balance of the park.
“Beyond population supplementation, these translocations support broader ecological restoration, reviving graze and browse dynamics, strengthening prey bases, and enhancing ecosystem resilience,” Farawo explained.
“They will help restore the ecological balance of the park, while supporting the broader restoration of the Sebungwe Region in the years to come.”
The operation received strong backing from local leadership, with the Nyaminyami community recently ratifying a Land Use Plan approved by the Minister of Local Government, reinforcing the long-term vision for conservation in the area.
The delicate task of capturing and moving the animals was handled by experts from African Wildlife Management and Conservation (AWMC) and Wildlife Management Services International (WMSI), with support from Matusadona’s own Conservation and Veterinarian Unit.
Farawo praised the “high levels of technical expertise and collaboration” that ensured all animals were moved safely.
Funding for this ambitious project was provided by a network of local and international donors, including the Global Wildlife Fund.
Authorities hail the relocation as a turning point for Matusadona, signaling a renewed commitment to ecological restoration and sustainable conservation in Zimbabwe.
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