Page 35 - KGR 2020 Review Book

under the same dosages. Using a thermal spotting sight, the team tracked
down the hyenas’ heat signatures and were able to get the veterinarians close
enough to dart the animals. As the individuals were immobilised, the team
leaped into action to attend the animal, monitoring its health and preparing it
for transport while the next hyena was darted. As the night progressed, finally
all four hyenas had been safely immobilised and loaded into the vehicles and
the next step of the journey, the drive to Karingani Game Reserve, commenced.
The five-hour journey to Karingani was split up with multiple stops to check
on the hyenas and to top up on their anaesthetics and the convoy arrived at
Karingani as the sun began to rise. As before with the human wildlife conflict,
lions, the plan was for the hyenas to stay in the Karingani predator holding
This historic operation was possible through collaborative efforts of organisations working together
boma until their health checks and testing were complete, then they were to be July 2020
moved to Zinave National Park.

The clan spent just over a week at Karingani before embarking on the next
leg of their journey by small aircraft to Zinave. The animals were once again
immobilised, this time during a much easier operation while inside of the
holding boma, and driven to Massingir Airport where they boarded for
the flight to Zinave. The hyenas were unloaded into the holding boma at
Zinave to help them establish themselves in their new surroundings before
being released as the first large predators roaming Zinanve National Park in
decades. “Landscape restoration and collaboration are at the core of our ethos
– what better example of that than to be a part of the restoration of Zinave
National Park in partnership with like-minded public and private conservation
organisations. I think the emphasis on collaboration is key to successful and
holistic conservation – multiple stakeholders all driven by the same desired
outcome of safeguarding the planet’s heritage, is a significant aspect of this
and future projects,” concludes Ellery.

The hyenas loaded into the Cessna Airbus ready to head to Zinave National Park
July 2020