Conflict can be devastating, not only to humans, but also to wildlife. During its 15-year civil war, which ended in 1992, Mozambique lost many species including painted wolves.
Luckily, conservationists have developed strategies to restore ecosystems. Gorongosa National Park, in the heart of Mozambique, is one of the most exciting examples.
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In August 2018, The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and Gorongosa National Park successfully completed a historic translocation of painted wolves from South Africa to Mozambique. Along with many local partners, the EWT caught two unrelated groups of male and female painted wolves from areas around South Africa and brought them together to bond in a boma at Phongola Nature Reserve in KwaZulu Natal. The pack was fitted with both GPS and VHF collars to allow for close monitoring once released. All individuals were vaccinated against canine distemper and rabies, as infectious diseases are a major threat to painted wolves.
The bonded pack was then flown to Mozambique and held in a newly constructed boma in Gorongosa for almost two months before being released.
We’re so excited to see painted wolves reclaiming some of their range!
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You can keep up to date on how the pack is doing by following Gorongosa and EWT.
Want to learn more about painted wolves? Take our quiz and become Part of our Pack!
