Peace Parks Foundation Newsflash 4/2016
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Peace Parks Foundation Newsflash 4/2016 FIRST ELEPHANT TRANSLOCATED TO ZINAVE NATIONAL PARK, MOZAMBIQUE In a very exciting move towards devel- keystone species such as elephant to terbuck, 50 reedbuck and 50 warthog oping Zinave National Park, seven ele- maintain these systems, a very definite from Gorongosa National Park in phant arrived safely, following their halt can be placed on the global trend Mozambique. A translocation of up to 1 500 km journey from the Maremani of mass species die-off and loss of func- 6 000 animals in total is planned from Nature Reserve near Mussina in South tional ecosystems providing food, ener- 2017 to 2020 and will include more Africa. The elephant were kindly do- gy, medicines, clean water and air. The giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, nated by the reserve in an effort to release of the first seven elephant back kudu, eland, buffalo and elephant. decrease overstocking. into Zinave is yet another important building block in attaining this vision.” For the time being, all the animals are Dr Bartolomeu Soto, Director-General being released into the 5 934 ha sanc- of the Mozambican National Admin- The translocation follows on the Mozam- tuary that has an electrified fence. istration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) bican Minister of Land, Environmen- Prior to the next translocations, the was there to welcome the elephant tal and Rural Development, Mr Celso sanctuary will be expanded to approxi- and said: “Zinave National Park is a Correia, and Peace Parks Foundation mately 15 000 ha as part of the overall crucial component of the Great Limpo- CEO, Mr Werner Myburgh, signing a co- park development, which will also in- po Transfrontier Conservation Area management agreement on 22 Septem- clude infrastructure, tourism and com- (TFCA). For Mozambique, it is very im- ber 2015. In terms of the agreement, munity development projects. portant that an interconnectivity is ANAC and Peace Parks Foundation will established between the three Mozam- develop Zinave National Park as an inte- For further information, kindly contact: bican national parks in Great Limpopo, gral component of Great Limpopo TFCA, namely Limpopo, Banhine and Zinave the larger area surrounding the core Dr Bartolomeu Soto national parks. With wildlife dispersal transfrontier park. Part of this agree- Director-General: ANAC areas between these parks, the com- ment is the restocking of Zinave with Mobile: +258 (0)82 302 9300 munities are set to benefit through wildlife to restore ecosystems, entice Email: [email protected] increased tourism development and tourists and benefit local communities. employment, as well as community Antony Alexander conservancies, where desired.” The first wildlife to restock the park Country Manager came from Kruger National Park and Peace Parks Foundation Mr Werner Myburgh, Peace Parks Foun- included 30 zebra in 2011, and 23 zeb- Mozambique Office dation CEO said: “Developing the Great ra, 42 blue wildebeest and seven gi- Mobile:+258 (87) 3011 730 Limpopo TFCA is about creating ecolog- raffe in 2012. The wildlife was kindly Email: [email protected] ical linkages across landscapes and sup- donated by South African National porting responsible economic relation- Parks and the translocations were fund- Irma Engelbrecht ships between protected areas and ed by Peace Parks Foundation. Communications Manager people. By creating and conserving Peace Parks Foundation core conservation areas and corridors This year’s translocation will, in addi- Tel: +27 (0)21 880 5116 to re-establish links and by protecting tion to the elephant, include 200 wa- Email: [email protected] Representatives from the government of Mozambique, the traditional community leadership and Peace Parks Foundation were on hand to welcome the elephant. .