The latest arrivals at Gorongosa National Park (GNP) in Mozambique are three cheetah that have been translocated from South Africa in a bid to strengthen the reserve's wildlife population.
After a long period of negotiations between the authorities in GNP and the Modgaji Conservation and Rehabilitation Project, Carlos Lopes Pereira, Director of Conservation and GNP Veterinary, took over management of the relocation process.
Four cheetah were translocated but once they were installed in their quarantine location it was discovered that one did not survive the transport operation due to an incident during the immobilisation of the animal in South Africa.
Will Van Duyn, who heads up Modgaji Conservation and Rehabilitation Project, said: "As soon as we return to South Africa, we will make further efforts to bring more cheetahs to Gorongosa National Park. These four are the first group, which has only opened the door to many more cheetahs in Gorongosa."
"Doing what we do, give freedom to the animals where it is necessary, carries risks. So, I say that our operation was a success because we have three cheetahs alive. It broke my heart to lose the fourth in the operation but if we were no longer able to return these cheetahs to the wild it would be even worse. Either way, this operation has opened a large area and more cheetahs will be relocated to Gorongosa."
