Namibia has translocated 575 animals from Etosha National Park to conservation areas across the country, including communal conservancies in the Kunene Region, to restore wildlife populations and strengthen community-based conservation.
The translocation, led by Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, included 256 springbok and 190 gemsbok moved to conservancies in Kunene and 90 plains zebra moved to Nyae Nyae Conservancy in the Otjozondjupa Region. Uukwaluudhi Conservancy in the Omusati Region received 15 gemsbok and 24 plains zebra.
The operation was supported by the Lion Recovery Fund and the Conservation Travel Foundation (CTF), the non-profit conservation arm of ultimate.earth, formerly Ultimate Safaris. The partners contributed approximately N$2.7 million (US$163 989) towards the operation valued at approximately N$6.7 million (US$406 915).
“The bolstering of wildlife populations in these landscapes is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when we work together towards a shared conservation vision,” said Tristan Cowley, Founder of CTF.
“Namibia’s conservation success has always been built on partnership. Government has created the framework that allows conservation to thrive, communities remain the custodians of these landscapes and organisations such as CTF and the Lion Recovery Fund can help mobilise additional support to strengthen these efforts.”
The Kunene Region is home to desert-adapted wildlife including black rhino, elephants and lions. According to CTF, restoring healthy prey populations is essential to maintain ecological balance and support the mitigation of predator-human conflict.
The translocation highlights the importance of maintaining large, connected conservation landscapes where wildlife populations can recover, move freely and continue contributing to ecological and economic resilience, CTF pointed out.
