Tourism and Environment

Zimbabwe relocates 2,500 wild animals to save them from drought made worse by climate change

Published

4 years ago

September 2, 2022

Staff Writer

BY FARAI MUTSAKA

A helicopter herds thousands of impalas into an enclosure.

A crane hoists sedated upside-down elephants into trailers.

Hordes of rangers drive other animals into metal cages and a convoy of trucks starts a journey of about 700 kilometers to take the animals to their new home.

Zimbabwe has begun moving more than 2,500 wild animals from a southern reserve to one in the country’s north to rescue them from drought, as the ravages of climate change replace poaching as the biggest threat to wildlife.

About 400 elephants, 2,000 impalas, 70 giraffes, 50 buffaloes, 50 wildebeest, 50 zebras, 50 elands, 10 lions and a pack of 10 wild dogs are among the animals being moved from Zimbabwe’s Save Valley Conservancy to three conservancies in the north — Sapi, Matusadonha and Chizarira — in one of southern Africa’s biggest live animal capture and translocation exercises.

“Project Rewild Zambezi,” as the operation is called, is moving the animals to an area in the Zambezi River valley to rebuild the wildlife populations there.

It’s the first time in 60 years that Zimbabwe has embarked on such a mass internal movement of wildlife. Between 1958 and 1964, when the country was white-minority-ruled Rhodesia, more than 5,000 animals were moved in what was called “Operation Noah.”

That operation rescued wildlife from the rising water caused by the construction of a massive hydro-electric dam on the Zambezi River that created one of the world’s largest man-made lakes, Lake Kariba.

This time it’s the lack of water that has made it necessary to move wildlife as their habitat has become parched by prolonged drought, said Tinashe Farawo, spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

The parks agency issued permits to allow the animals to be moved to avert “a disaster from happening,” said Farawo.

“We are doing this to relieve pressure. For years we have fought poaching and just as we are winning that war, climate change has emerged as the biggest threat to our wildlife,” Farawo told The Associated Press.

“Many of our parks are becoming overpopulated and there is little water or food.

“The animals end up destroying their own habitat, they become a danger unto themselves and they encroach neighboring human settlements for food resulting in incessant conflict,” he said.

One option would be culling to reduce the numbers of wildlife, but conservation groups protest that such killings are cruel.
Zimbabwe last did culling in 1987, said Farawo.

The effects of climate change on wildlife is not isolated to Zimbabwe.

Across Africa, national parks that are home to myriad wildlife species such as lions, elephants and buffaloes are increasingly threatened by below-average rainfall and new infrastructure projects.

Authorities and experts say drought has seriously threatened species like rhinos, giraffes and antelope as it reduces the amount of food available.

For example, a recent study conducted in South Africa’s Kruger National Park linked extreme weather events to the loss of plants and animals, unable to cope with the drastic conditions and lack of water due to longer dry spells and hotter temperatures.

The mass movement is supported by the Great Plains Foundation, a non-profit organization that works “to conserve and expand natural habitats in Africa through innovative conservation initiatives,” according to its website.

The organisation is working with the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, local experts, the University of Washington-Seattle’s Center for Environmental Forensic Science and Oxford University’s Department of Zoology, according to the website.

One of the new homes for the animals moved in Zimbabwe is Sapi Reserve. the privately-run 280,000-acre private concession is east of Mana Pools National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site known for its splendid setting along the Zambezi River that forms the border between Zimbabwe with Zambia.

Sapi “is the perfect solution for many reasons,” Great Plains chief executive officer Dereck Joubert said on the foundation’s website.
“This reserve forms the middle-Zambezi biosphere, totaling 1.6 million acres,” wrote Joubert. “

“From the 1950s until we took it over in 2017, decades of hunting had decimated wildlife populations in Sapi Reserve.
“We are rewilding and restoring the wild back to what it once was.” – Associated Press

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A guardian’s legacy: PDC honours Greg ‘Gibby’ Gibbard as painted dog successes grow

Published

3 days ago

April 9, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In a poignant tribute that has resonated across the conservation community, Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) recently gathered to honour the memory of Greg ‘Gibby’ Gibbard, a man whose life was inextricably linked to the survival of the African wild dog. Gibbard, who passed away in 2015, is being remembered not just for his years of service, but for a legacy that continues to safeguard one of the continent’s most endangered predators.

The Facebook remembrance, shared by Maria of PDC, highlights a life defined by “unwavering courage” and a refusal to let the story of the painted dog end. While the region continues to grapple with intense poaching pressure—including a recent surge in illegal traps that has seen thousands of snares removed from the bush—the focus of this week’s memorial is on the “hope and resilience” that Gibbard instilled in the mission.

Tracking Footprints in the Sand

For those who knew him, Greg’s work was far from the polished image of modern wildlife tourism. It was characterized by “long days in the bush, tracking fading footprints in dust and sand,” and the relentless, often exhausting effort of “educating communities and inspiring young conservationists.”

Maria noted that Gibbard stood as a “guardian of a species that many had forgotten,” recognizing early on that the survival of the patchwork-coated dogs was “inseparable from our own future.” His dedication spanned “sleepless nights worrying about disease and disappearing habitat,” a commitment that laid the foundation for the sophisticated tracking and research operations used by PDC today.

A Legacy of Resilience: The Umkhonto Pack

The success of modern interventions is widely seen as a continuation of Gibbard’s vision. A primary example is the Umkhonto Pack, which has become a “flagship example of science-driven, field-based conservation”.

Image by PDC

Though the park faces ongoing challenges with illegal snaring in communal areas, the protection of this specific pack has been a resounding victory. According to the latest PDC data:

Eight healthy pups were successfully raised during the last denning season with no mortalities .
The pack has stabilized at 19 individuals , now ranging within the safety of Hwange National Park.
The integration of research and tracking technology—methods Gibbard championed—led to the arrest of eleven poachers in the pack’s territory.

The “Shadows of the Savanna” Live OnAs the conservation community marks a decade since his passing, the presence of these “remarkable predators” remains the ultimate tribute to his life. The current population in the Hwange and Sinamatela regions is robust, with several monitored packs carrying the torch of his efforts.

The Emerald pack, which has reached 22 individuals, and the Batsha pack , with 20 dogs, are thriving examples of the “unbreakable family bonds” Maria spoke of in her tribute . Other groups, including the Kingsbury, Linkwasha, Chowato, Cave, Intundla, Khumbula, and Garikamwe packs, continue to move like “shadows across the savanna at sunrise,” fulfilling Gibbard’s dream of a wilderness that still echoes with their high-pitched calls.

“May we honour Greg’s memory not only with words, but with action,” the tribute concluded.

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Tourism bill clears National Assembly, moves to Senate

Published

2 weeks ago

March 26, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe’s Tourism Act Amendment Bill has been passed by the National Assembly and now awaits debate in the Senate, marking a key step towards overhauling the country’s tourism sector.

According to the explanatory memorandum, “This Bill seeks to establish a Zimbabwe Tourism Authority that is responsible for the regulation for the tourism and hospitality industry, and the marketing of destination Zimbabwe.”

The proposed law strengthens the role of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), which will regulate, license and promote the industry. It also introduces stricter compliance measures for tourism operators.

Under the new provisions, registration and grading of facilities will be mandatory. The Bill states: “no person shall conduct or operate that designated tourist facility unless it is registered and graded.”

Authorities will also have enforcement powers, including shutting down non-compliant operators.

The legislation further extends regulation to online accommodation platforms, a growing segment in the tourism sector. It stipulates that: “All hosts must register with the Authority… before listing a property on an accommodation booking platform.”

To support industry growth, the Bill proposes the creation of a dedicated fund. It notes: “There is hereby established a fund to be known as the Zimbabwe Tourism Fund,” which will be used for “the development and promotion of the tourism and hospitality industry.”

Sustainability and inclusivity are also central to the new law. The Bill provides that: “All tourism policies, programs, and projects shall incorporate the principles of sustainable development.”

It further emphasises inclusion, stating that tourism development must mainstream “gender equality, disability inclusion, and the rights of indigenous peoples.”

Once enacted, the law will replace the current Tourism Act. The Bill clearly states it seeks “to repeal the Tourism Act [Chapter 14:20].”

The Bill now proceeds to the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to debate its provisions before it can be sent for presidential assent.

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MP probes Binga tourism, climate and conservation plans

Published

3 weeks ago

March 25, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Binga South legislator, Fanuel Cumanzala has called for clarity on tourism development and environmental protection in the Zambezi Valley.

In a parliamentary hearing, Cumanzala asked the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife:

“The plans the Ministry has in place to develop and promote tourism in Binga District, particularly around the Zambezi River, in order to enhance local economic development and create employment opportunities for residents.”

He added:

“The programmes being implemented to ensure that local communities in Binga District directly benefit from tourism.”

Further questions focused on sustainability and climate resilience:

“What measures are in place to ensure the protection and sustainable management of natural tourism assets in the Zambezi Valley, including wildlife, rivers and forests, in order to prevent environmental degradation.”

“The efforts being made to combat poaching in the Zambezi Valley, particularly in Binga District, and how local communities are being involved in wildlife protection initiatives.”

“The climate adaptation strategies being implemented to assist communities in Binga District in coping with droughts, floods, and other climate-related challenges affecting the Zambezi Valley.”

No ministerial responses were recorded.