20 African wild dogs return to Zimbabwe park after decades as its ecosystem is restored

African Wild Dog. Image Credit: Wikipedia African wild dogs returned to Zimbabwe’s Matusadona National Park in February 2026 after disappearing from the area for decades. 20 animals were moved into the park in two established packs, marking a major step in the restoration of a predator that had been locally extinct there. But the return did not begin with the release itself. African Parks and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority had spent years rebuilding protection, wildlife populations, monitoring systems and community links across Matusadona before the dogs arrived.How 20 African wild dogs returned to Matusadona after decadesThe 20 African wild dogs were translocated between 15 and 17 February 2026, according to African Parks. The animals came from Nuanetsi Ranch in southern Zimbabwe and were moved in 2 established packs, with 6 dogs in one and 14 in the other.The operation was led by African Parks and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, or ZimParks. NineDaysinEden reported that the process involved wildlife specialists, veterinarians, aircraft crews and conservation teams, with the animals undergoing health checks and careful monitoring before ...