Online Reporter
Walter Nyamukondiwa
Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has successfully translocated 74 herbivores, including buffaloes and sables, to restore biodiversity in the Sebungwe Region.
Zimparks teamed up with Matusadona Conservation Trust in the research-based movement of the herbivores from Tsetse Island on Lake Kariba and Sibilobilo Safari Area.
At least 50 African buffaloes, 10 eland and 14 sable antelope were moved in the successful translocation.
In a statement, Zimparks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo said the move bolstered conservation efforts in the country.
“The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) in partnership with Matusadona Conservation Trust has successfully relocated 74 large herbivores, marking an important milestone in ongoing conservation efforts within Matusadona National Park, in north-western Zimbabwe,” he said.
“The authority is pleased to announce the completion of wildlife translocations that brought 50 African buffalo, 10 common eland from Tsetse Island on Lake Kariba, and 14 sable antelope from the Sibilobilo Safari Area (one of the Islands along the Zambezi River) during July 2025.”
The authority and its partners, he said, undertook the translocation following feasibility assessments to ensure sustainable conservation of the species and promote sustainable conservation.
The move restores the graze and browse balance, supplements wildlife population, strengthens the prey bases and enhances ecosystem resilience.
“The translocations will help restore the ecological balance of the park, while supporting the broader restoration of the Sebungwe Region in the years to come,” Mr Farawo said.
“The exceptional conservation leadership shown by the Nyaminyami community through a newly ratified Land Use Plan, approved by the Honourable Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on 29 July, has further strengthened the long-term vision for wildlife conservation in the Sebungwe region.”
The African Wildlife Management and Conservation (AWMC), Wildlife Management Services International (WMSI), Matusadona’s Conservation and Veterinarian Unit, local and international donors, including the Global Wildlife Fund, collaborated for the successful relocation of the animals.
