Black Rhino Return to Zimbabwe’s Matusadona National Park in Historic Conservation Milestone
MATUSADONA NATIONAL PARK, ZIMBABWE, 3 June 2026 — A group of critically endangered black rhino has been successfully reintroduced into Matusadona National Park, marking a significant conservation milestone for Zimbabwe and completing a full-circle moment for the iconic park.
The reintroduction signifies the return of a species that once defined this landscape. Before organized poaching escalated in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Sebungwe region, centered around Matusadona, supported Zimbabwe’s largest contiguous population of black rhino. To protect the animals, ZimParks made the critical decision to relocate the surviving population to safer sites across the country, a foresight that preserved the genetic lineage of the regional animals. The newly returned rhinos include direct descendants of those moved out more than three decades ago.
READ ALSO: New IUCN Framework Paves the Way for Inclusive Rhino Conservation in Africa
The operation was led collaboratively by Matusadona National Park, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), and African Parks. The rhinos were sourced from Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy, Matobo National Park, and one other undisclosed location. They were loaded into specialized crates and airlifted to the park on the shores of Lake Kariba.
Following arrival, the animals will undergo a period of close monitoring in purpose-built bomas before being released in phases into a secure 175-square-kilometre Intensive Protection Zone within the national park. Each rhino is fitted with a tracking device to enable real-time monitoring and rapid response to any signs of conflict or stress after their release.
The operation directly supports Zimbabwe’s National Rhino Strategy by establishing a founder population that is expected to contribute to another metapopulation in the country over the next 15 years.
READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Five black rhinos arrive in Rwanda from Europe
The return has generated widespread excitement and support from conservation partners globally, as well as from local communities, including the Nyaminyami who share the park’s borders. Traditional leaders, including Chiefs Mola, Masampakaruma, Nebiri, and Negande, have played an active role as strong advocates for the rhinos’ return.
Professor Edison Gandiwa, Director General of ZimParks, called it a “historic event and a proud moment for Zimbabwe’s conservation efforts”. He noted that it is a “testament to what is possible when government, conservation organisations, and local partners work together with shared purpose,” adding that ZimParks’ conviction that Matusadona had the necessary habitat, security, and management capacity has now been realized.
READ ALSO: RWANDA: White rhinos released into a larger enclosure in Akagera National park
Michael Pelham, Park Manager of Matusadona National Park, expressed the deep significance of the moment, recalling his role in the 1990s: “I helped capture the last survivors, we crated them and flew them out to safety, not knowing if the species would ever come back”. He stated, “Matusadona is synonymous with black rhino, and walking through this landscape recently, there has been an overbearing sense that we are missing an icon”.
Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks, which entered a 20-year management agreement for Matusadona with ZimParks in 2019, said the park’s challenges in the early 1990s were an important driver in conceptualizing his organization. “It is therefore personally gratifying to have been a partner in the revival of Matusadona,” he concluded.
The translocation was made possible through generous institutional and philanthropic support from the European Union, Global Wildlife Fund, and Thomas and Sara de Swardt, with funding for preliminary preparation provided by the Rhino Recovery Fund. This moment represents the continued rebuilding of one of Zimbabwe’s iconic protected areas through sustained commitment and long-term investment.
About The Author
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
