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afrol News, 13 August - The second phase of a great game relocation scheme into Mozambique's Limpopo National Park started today. At least 1045 wild animals are to be transported from the South African Krüger Park into Mozambique, as part of the establishment of the new Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park. The Greater Limpopo Park is to become one of the world's largest conservancies, straddling parts of three countries. The massive cross-border conservation area brings together Zimbabwe's Gonarezhou National Park, South Africa's Krüger National Park and southern Mozambique's Coutada 16 (Limpopo National Park). The new park aims to re-establish ancient animal migration routes, disrupted by fences and borders. The Mozambican side of the park covers about 40,000 square kilometres, currently inhabited by about 20,000 people. Before the new mega-park is established, many of the inhabitants have to be relocated and several animal species are being re-introduced from areas where they had lost out to human settlements. In October of last year, 30 elephants were introduced from South Africa into the Mozambican Limpopo Park. The second animal relocation phase, embarked on today, includes about 1045 great mammals such as giraffes, zebras, impalas, gazelles, antelopes, warthogs and other species. Rafael Nhambale, press secretary of the Mozambican Ministry of Tourism, today told the press that the entire animal re-introduction programme will be a process going on for an estimated three years. During this programme, it is planned that a total of 6,000 animals will be introduced into Mozambique from South Africa, which has had a better organised wildlife conservation policy for decades. Although the famous South African Krüger temporarily will see its wildlife density somewhat reduced, the long term effects of the relocation and establishment of the Transfrontier Park will be exclusively positive for the wildlife. With ancient animal migration routes re-established and the establishment of one single protected ecological system of 100,000 square kilometres, wildlife will have the opportunity of recovering into natural circumstances. The reintroduction of a great number of large mammals into the Mozambican side of the park is however not without difficulties. The human population of 20,000 is severely affected by the programme. At least 6,000 of the inhabitants will have to be moved from the buffer areas regarded as "fundamental for the development of tourism and the conservation of biodiversity." Further, the reintroduction of a large number of great mammals such as elephants will have significant influence on agriculture, livestock and settlements within the park and around the park. There are local concerns that inadequate fencing will make the cohabitation of herds of large, wild, grazing mammals, carnivores and human a difficult task. Mozambican government promises to fence the park well are not trusted by the local population. The cohabitation is further jeopardised by the massive presence of poachers, especially on the Mozambican and Zimbabwean sides of the new giant park. While poaching is under relative control in South Africa, the lawlessness and widespread hunger in the two other countries has led to widespread poaching. In Zimbabwe, an estimated thousand self-proclaimed "war veterans" are living of the bush meat from the park. Mozambican poachers reportedly even are armed with AK47 assault rifles, making it a risky business to detain them. All in all, however, the new Transfrontier Park seems to be set for success as its implementation slowly is moving forward. The governments of South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are looking forward to great revenues from what is set to become one of Africa's principal tourist attractions. The Transfrontier Park will be a world-class ecotourism destination, with extensive private-sector involvement, "but managed to optimise benefits for biodiversity conservation and economic development of local communities," according to the South African Ministry of Environment. In addition to the usual game-viewing opportunities, visitors will have a broad range of new attractions, the Ministry says, "including bird-rich tropical wetlands, lake cruises, tiger-fishing, rugged 4x4 adventure drives, and much more. A mix of cultural experiences will be offered, with traditional healers explaining their trade, story-telling, food, dance, music, handicraft and art to explore and enjoy." Slowly, the concept is materialising. On the Mozambican side - the slowest to implement the park's programme so far - preparations are accelerating. A management plan is being drafted, the local population is being sensitised and relocation efforts - including the construction of a social infrastructure - are in their beginning. Now, the giraffes and warthogs are starting to move in; on business class, that is. Local residents hope promises are lived up to at they get the same services when moving
out.
Sources: Based on Mozambican and SA govts, SADC, press reports and afrol archives
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