Black rhinos return to Matusadona after 30 years in major Zimbabwe conservation milestone

Black rhinos return to Matusadona after 30 years in major Zimbabwe conservation milestone

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Black rhinos have been reintroduced into Matusadona National Park for the first time in more than three decades, following an operation led by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and partners.

The animals were airlifted into the Lake Kariba-side protected area in what officials described as a carefully coordinated translocation involving ZimParks, African Parks and Matusadona National Park. Programme statements said the rhinos were sourced from Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy, Matobo National Park and another location that was not publicly named.

The return follows a period in the late 1980s and early 1990s when poaching severely reduced rhino populations in the Zambezi Valley and forced authorities to move remaining animals to safer areas. Matusadona was previously a stronghold for black rhino before suffering heavy losses during that period.

Park manager Michael Pelham, who witnessed both the removals decades ago and the current reintroduction, said the development carried deep personal meaning. “Having witnessed the rhino’s catastrophic decline in Matusadona, it is incredibly emotional to see their return,” Pelham said.

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For the initial stage, the rhinos will be held in specially built bomas for monitoring and assessment before being released in phases into a secured Intensive Protection Zone covering 175 square kilometres. Officials said each animal has also been fitted with tracking devices to support monitoring and strengthen protection.

Conservation groups involved in the programme linked the reintroduction to broader efforts to rebuild protection capacity at Matusadona, including a 20-year management partnership between African Parks and ZimParks signed in 2019. Under that arrangement, Matusadona became the first protected area in Zimbabwe managed using African Parks’ model.

The rhino move also comes after the reintroduction of wild dogs earlier this year, which officials said reflected progress in restoring the park’s ecosystem management.

ZimParks director-general Professor Edison Gandiwa described the development as a national milestone. “It is a testament to what is possible when government, conservation organisations and local partners work together with shared purpose,” Gandiwa said.

African Parks chief executive officer Peter Fearnhead said Matusadona’s history influenced the organisation’s mission. “It is therefore personally gratifying to have been a partner in the revival of Matusadona,” Fearnhead said.

Officials also highlighted the role of traditional leadership and nearby communities, saying local support is important to long-term wildlife protection.

Matusadona Conservation Trust country manager Daniel Sithole said the animals represent more than a symbolic return. “These animals carry the genetics of this landscape. Their return belongs to Zimbabwe,” Sithole said.

The reintroduction comes as rhino numbers rise through intensive protection measures in several African countries. Officials said Zimbabwe has recently surpassed 1,000 rhinos for the first time in more than three decades, with 616 black rhinos and 417 white rhinos recorded.

Matusadona National Park, established in 1975, was once known for its black rhino and elephant populations, but years of poaching, illegal fishing and limited resources weakened protection efforts. Conservation stakeholders say the reintroduction signals a shift from depletion to recovery, with renewed focus on security and long-term management.

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