Black Rhino Return to Zimbabwe's Matusadona National Park
Critically endangered black rhino have been reintroduced into Zimbabwe's Matusadona National Park, marking a significant conservation milestone more than three decades after poaching eliminated the species from the area. The animals - sourced from Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy, Matobo National Park, and one undisclosed location - were airlifted into the park on the shores of Lake Kariba on 3 June 2026. Following a monitored period in purpose-built bomas, they will be released in phases into a secure 175-square-kilometre Intensive Protection Zone, with each animal fitted with a real-time tracking device. The operation was led by Matusadona National Park, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and African Parks, with funding from the European Union, Global Wildlife Fund, and private philanthropists Thomas and Sara de Swardt.
The reintroduction is a direct component of Zimbabwe's National Rhino Strategy, with the founder population expected to contribute to a new metapopulation over the next 15 years. Before the poaching crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Sebungwe region - with Matusadona at its centre - supported Zimbabwe's largest contiguous black rhino population. Some of the animals now returning are direct descendants of those evacuated from the park over 30 years ago. The initiative has drawn broad support from local traditional leaders and surrounding Nyaminyami communities, and builds on the 20-year management agreement between African Parks and ZimParks established in 2019. Lisima's Ramsar designation in 2026 and this reintroduction together signal a broader momentum in African conservation efforts this year.
Source: African Parks
