A clan of six spotted hyenas were successfully relocated in early November, from Karingani Game Reserve in southern Mozambique to Gorongosa National Park.
Safely and successfully relocating hyenas is a meticulous process involving eight hours of anesthesia and several weeks in a boma (an enclosed area) allowing the animals to adjust to their new environment prior to release.
Increasing Gorongosa Park’s hyena population leads to a more balanced predator-prey dynamic and is part of a broader restoration project which includes habitat rehabilitation, anti-poaching measures, and species reintroduction.
The six new hyenas are in addition to clans moved from Karingani to Gorongosa Park in 2022. The recent birth of hyena cubs to the clans in 2023 means the 2022 reintroduction efforts are working. According to the mother’s movements, the cubs are about one month old.
Increasing Gorongosa Park’s hyena population leads to a more balanced predator-prey dynamic and is part of a broader restoration project which includes habitat rehabilitation, anti-poaching measures, and species reintroduction.
The hyena project is a collaborative effort between the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance, ANAC, the Karingani Game Reserve, Gorongosa National Park and the Lion Recovery Fund, and reinforces the importance of partnerships for addressing conservation challenges and restoring wildlife populations.
Located in southern Mozambique, the Karingani Game Reserve shares its borders with South Africa’s Kruger and Limpopo national parks, which together, represents one of the largest protected area systems in the world.
The Mozambique Wildlife Alliance represents a coalition of organizations that deliver international standards of conservation services in partnership with ANAC and regional stakeholders to support wildlife, communities and habitats across Mozambique.
Created by the Wildlife Conservation Network in partnership with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (now known as Re:wild), the Lion Recovery Fund funds game-changing conservation actions by the most effective partners who work collaboratively to bring lions back.
