How has Gorongosa National Park recovered from Mozambique鈥檚 Civil War?
Many animal populations were almost wiped out, with numbers of wildebeest and Zebras dropping from thousands to less than twenty. Local people had no schools, hospitals or work.
Over one million people died during Mozambique鈥檚 civil war 鈥� which continued from 1977 to 1992. By its end, much of the country鈥檚 infrastructure was also gone.
One place which was heavily impacted was Gorongosa National Park 鈥� in the middle of the country 鈥� where virtually all the wild animals were slaughtered for food or for ivory, which was then traded for weapons. Wildebeest and Zebra populations dropped from thousands to less than twenty of each. Elephant numbers decreased by more than 90%. And for the people living there, there were no schools, hospitals or jobs.
But in 2004, the then-president, Joaquim Chissano, appealed to American philanthropist, Greg Carr, to help with the rebuilding of Mozambique - and he chose to concentrate on the park. Now, after 20 years, it鈥檚 been transformed.
For today鈥檚 Africa Daily Mpho Lakaje finds out more about what鈥檚 been called 鈥楢frica鈥檚 most successful rewilding effort鈥� with journalist Ish Mafundikwa who鈥檚 just visited the project.
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