25 April, 2018
Wild Dogs return to Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique) after decades of absence
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Photo: © Gorongosa National Park
Right in the heart of Mozambique, the Gorongosa National Park was once considered one of Africa’s greatest parks, but sadly, the civil war from 1977 to 1992 resulted in the loss of more than 90 per cent of the park’s wildlife. The Gorongosa Project has been working to restore the park since 2004, and so far, it is succeeding – today, wildlife populations are at approximately 80 per cent of pre-war levels. By protecting and saving this beautiful wilderness, the Gorongosa Project is returning it to its rightful place as one of Africa’s greatest parks.
Recently, wild dogs have been returned to Gorongosa National Park after decades of absence. With only around 6,600 wild dogs left in Africa, this incredible animal is one of the continent’s most at-risk carnivores, and is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as endangered. Urgent action is required to save them. A conservation strategy is the reintroduction of packs into habitats where they once occurred.
Gorongosa National Park is pleased to announce one of the most exciting wild dog reintroductions yet, as part of its efforts to save this highly threatened species. Wild dogs will soon roam free in Gorongosa for the first time in decades. This historic transboundary event took place in April 2018. At Oak, we are delighted with this news. Congratulations to the team at the Gorongosa National Park and welcome to the dogs!
Find out more in this National Geographic Wildlife blog. Click here for information on the Gorongosa Restoration Project. Find out more about Oak’s Environment Programme, including its wildlife conservation and trade sub-Programme here.