While on patrol in Zinave National Park in Mozambique, rangers come across many different incredible sightings and wildlife interactions, with some being slightly more ‘memorable’ than others. Today, Malcolm Moulang, a helicopter pilot currently stationed in the park, is traveling from the headquarters to his accommodation when he spots a large family herd of female elephants and their young. The matriarch quickly makes it abundantly clear that she is in no mood for company, and Malcolm and the team have to make a quick exit! These translocated elephants of Zinave still have a way to go until they learn that they can trust the rangers here who are working every day to keep these grey giants safe.
A Recent New Home
Peace Parks Foundation in partnership with Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC), have been hard at work in relocating elephants that once faced significant risk from human-wildlife conflict and overpopulation in other parts of Mozambique, to Zinave National Park, where they now have the space and safety to thrive in harmony with humans.
This most recent translocation saw a family herd of 23 elephants moved from Maputo National Park’s buffer zone, where the communities living on the edge of the protected area were under constant threat of this herd after they developed a keen palate for crops instead of natural vegetation. These crop-raiding tendencies, unfortunately, can uproot and destroy hectares of agricultural fields, resulting in farmers losing their entire harvest in a matter of minutes. This could result in communities taking action against these elephants, which is extremely dangerous for all involved.
To keep both the elephants and people safe, Peace Parks and partners took action to relocate these elephants to Zinave. Want to know how elephant are translocated? Watch our elephant translocation series here!
A Relaxed Giant
While on their patrols, the rangers also regularly bump into the park’s other giants, the rhino, who have settled in rather well in their new home.
This is after a recent partnership between (ANAC), Exxaro Resources, Peace Parks Foundation and partners saw the translocation of both black and white rhinos from a reserve in South Africa where they faced significant risk due to poaching.
This momentous event marked the first founder population of rhino in Zinave in more than 40 years, making it the country’s first ‘Big 5’ national park.
Life All-Around
It is incredible to think that Zinave was once referred to as a ‘silent park’ with very few resident wildlife, birds or insects, but thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, it has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last few years!
