Twenty African wild dogs have been translocated to Matusadona National Park, marking the return of the endangered species to the area after decades of local extinction.
By John Cassim
A landmark conservation effort has brought African wild dogs back to Matusadona National Park for the first time in nearly twenty years, following the successful translocation of 20 individuals by the Matusadona Conservation Trust (MCT), a partnership between African Parks and the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
The translocation, conducted between February 15 and 17, 2026, represents a major milestone in the ecological restoration of the park, which sits along the shores of Lake Kariba. Two separate packs—one of six and another of fourteen, are currently acclimating in specialized holding facilities, known as bomas, in the Tashinga area. This “soft-release” approach allows the animals to adjust to their new surroundings, reaffirm social bonds, and begin establishing territory attachments before their final release into the wild.
African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), also known as painted wolves, rank among Africa’s most endangered large carnivores, according to IUCN Red List. With fewer than 7,000 individuals remaining across the continent, the species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their return to Matusadona restores a key predator to the park’s ecosystem, rebalancing prey populations and re-establishing a natural rhythm absent for decades.
“To witness wild dogs returning to Matusadona after all these years is profoundly moving,” said Michael Pelham, Park Manager for Matusadona National Park. “Today, we welcome them home. Their presence will restore the natural rhythm of this ecosystem—the vital balance between predator and prey.”
Addressing Human-Wildlife Conflict Concerns
The reintroduction follows heightened public awareness around wildlife translocations, particularly after the 2022 transfer of 263 elephants to Kasungu National Park in Malawi. In that instance, elephants moved toward the park’s edges, leading to crop raiding, property damage, and tragic human fatalities. A 133-kilometer boundary fence, supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), was eventually commissioned to address those challenges.
The Matusadona Conservation Trust has moved to allay similar concerns, emphasizing that African wild dogs pose no threat to human safety. Unlike lions, leopards, or hyenas, wild dogs have no recorded instances of attacking humans. Highly social and intelligent, they focus almost exclusively on wild prey such as impala, kudu, and other medium-sized herbivores.
To further ensure community safety and enable close monitoring, each adult wild dog has been fitted with a GPS tracking collar. The collars allow MCT’s monitoring team to track pack movements in real time, providing critical data on ranging behavior and habitat use.
In a parallel effort to strengthen coexistence, 12 rangers from the Nyaminyami Rural District Council have been integrated into Matusadona’s operations. Their duties include patrolling wildlife corridors and providing rapid response to any incidents.
MCT has also established GPS-based “geofences” around settlement areas. When collared wildlife approach these virtual boundaries, automated alerts are triggered, enabling the monitoring team to intervene before animals enter inhabited areas.
The reintroduction forms part of a broader vision to restore Matusadona’s ecological integrity. Once renowned for its dense populations of lion, elephant, and buffalo, the park suffered significant wildlife declines in previous decades. With African Parks assuming management in partnership with ZimParks, the landscape is now seeing a steady recovery, one that conservationists hope will also benefit surrounding communities through increased tourism and employment.
The 20 wild dogs were sourced from a stable population elsewhere in Zimbabwe, though specific details of their origin have been withheld to protect the source populations. Conservationists anticipate that once released, the packs will establish territories across the park’s 1,470 square kilometers, contributing to the long-term viability of the species in the region.
