We are living in a time where conservation organisations, safari operators, wildlife protection agencies, law enforcement, and national parks and reserves have made considerable progress towards rescuing, rebuilding, and rehabilitating Africa’s greatest wildlife areas. Most recently, we have been following the progress of an iconic African wild dog relocation from South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal to Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park.
This landmark move is the result of the professional collaboration between the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Gorongosa National Park and has employed the expertise, teamwork, and support of WildlifeACT, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the KZN state veterinary department, Maremani Game Reserve, LEDET, and The Bateleurs.
On Monday 16 April, 15 African wild dogs were transferred by air from KwaZulu Natal to Gorongosa National Park, which will be their new home. This is the first ever translocation of wild dogs to anywhere in Mozambique, and as a result, it is a moment in history and a clear signal of how successful the effort of these conservation groups really is. Of the 15 dogs, nine are male and were earmarked for relocation from Mkhuze Game Reserve by the KZN Wild Dog Advisory Group (KZNWAG), and five are free-roaming female dogs from the same region.
Gorongosa National Park is recognised as one of Africa’s last truly wild places and it has recovered from decades of poaching and demolition, which much of Mozambique was subject to during the years of civil war, which surged on for almost 20 years before finally ending in 1992. Today, this national park is celebrated for its unique biodiversity and becoming the first home to a pack of African wild dogs is a moment in history both for Mozambique and Gorongosa.
Once the dogs had landed safely, they were transferred to their boma, which was ready and waiting for them. They will spend six to eight weeks in the boma getting to know their new environment and the other members of their new pack, and after the initiation period, they will be released into the greater wilderness to establish their new range.
“It took weeks of preparation here in Gorongosa before we received our Wild Dogs… here is the team that designed and built the 0.5ha enclosure where the dogs will live for the next few weeks prior to their release. The Park’s Operations team did an outstanding job supporting us every step of the way. Our Sanctuary team – led by Zembe, whose family has been part of the Park’s restoration for 3 generations – included young men from neighbouring communities who were trained in construction and electrics by Louis Van Wyk. Spirits were high every day and together they built a beautiful and secure boma from start to finish. We couldn’t have had a better team!” – Paola Bouley, Associate Director: Carnivore Conservation, Gorongosa National Park.
We are looking forward to following the dogs’ progress in Gorongosa and seeing them thrive and repopulate the area their species has not roamed for several decades. Watch this space for further developments from Gorongosa as it continues to take strides towards achieving its conservation goals.
All photos courtesy of Gorongosa National Park.
Take a look at some of the other wildlife translocations that we have been following with pride over the last year:
Lions Return to Liwonde National Park
First Cheetah Cubs Born in Malawi in over 20 Years
