By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
MATUSADONA National Park has welcomed black rhinos back within its boundaries for the first time in more than three decades—an achievement being hailed as a turning point for Zimbabwe’s wildlife recovery efforts and a proof that long-term restoration can bring back species once pushed to the brink.
The rhinos were airlifted into the Lake Kariba-side protected area in a carefully coordinated operation involving the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), African Parks, and Matusadona National Park. The animals were sourced from Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy, Matobo National Park, and another location that officials did not publicly name, according to programme statements.
Officials say the move completes a conservation arc that began in the late 1980s, when widespread poaching destabilised Zimbabwe’s rhino populations and forced authorities to relocate remaining animals from the Zambezi Valley to safer habitats. Many of the rhinos returning to Matusadona are believed to be descendants of those earlier survivors, rescued and nurtured through the work of institutions that specialised in safeguarding orphaned calves.
Once a key stronghold for black rhinos, Matusadona suffered severe losses during the 1980s and early 1990s as horn poaching accelerated across the region. During that period, Zimbabwe’s rhino numbers reportedly fell dramatically from around 10,000 animals to fewer than 1,000 while other wildlife also faced steep population declines.
For park staff, the arrival is not just a wildlife success story but also a deeply personal moment tied to events many of them witnessed firsthand.
Park manager Michael Pelham, who observed both the forced removal of rhinos and their current reintroduction, described the development as emotionally overwhelming. He said he was present during the years when the last survivors were captured, crated, and flown to safety operations carried out with uncertainty over whether rhinos would ever return to Matusadona.
“Having witnessed the rhino’s catastrophic decline in Matusadona, it is incredibly emotional to see their return,” Pelham said.
The rhinos will initially be kept in specially built bomas to allow monitoring and assessment before phased release into a secured Intensive Protection Zone measuring 175 square kilometres. Each rhino has also been fitted with tracking devices intended to support real-time monitoring and strengthen protection against any renewed threats.
Conservation stakeholders say the reintroduction is the latest step in broader investments that have been rebuilding Matusadona’s capacity to safeguard wildlife. A central milestone came in 2019 when African Parks entered a 20-year management partnership with ZimParks aimed at rehabilitating the park making Matusadona the first protected area in Zimbabwe to be managed under African Parks’ model.
The programme’s progress is also linked to other species recovery efforts. The return of black rhinos follows the successful reintroduction of wild dogs earlier this year, which officials point to as evidence that Matusadona’s ecosystem management is taking hold.
ZimParks director-general Professor Edison Gandiwa said the milestone represented a historic moment for Zimbabwe.
“It is a testament to what is possible when government, conservation organisations and local partners work together with shared purpose,” he said.
African Parks chief executive officer Peter Fearnhead added that the park’s early decline helped shape the organisation’s creation and mission. “It is therefore personally gratifying to have been a partner in the revival of Matusadona,” he said.
Traditional leadership structures from nearby communities have also played a role in supporting the reintroduction programme, with officials emphasising that local buy-in is essential for sustained protection and long-term security of wildlife.
Matusadona Conservation Trust country manager Daniel Sithole said the rhinos returning are more than a restored species on paper.
“These animals carry the genetics of this landscape. Their return belongs to Zimbabwe,” Sithole said.
The reintroduction into Matusadona comes as black rhino numbers continue rising across Africa through intensive conservation. Zimbabwe has recently passed the 1,000-rhino mark for the first time in more than three decades, with authorities recording 616 black rhinos and 417 white rhinos.
Matusadona National Park—established in 1975—was once celebrated for black rhino and elephant populations. But years marked by poaching, illegal fishing, and constrained resources weakened wildlife protection and eroded the park’s resilience.
With rhinos now back in the park, conservation officials say Matusadona is moving from a history of depletion toward a future of recovery offering one of the clearest signals yet that Zimbabwe’s wider conservation resurgence is gaining momentum.
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