Veterinary Intervention in a Transboundary Landscape

As shared in the recent collaboration post with our partners, a collared male lion dispersing from Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe was recently detected in Coutada 5, Mozambique after his tracking signal began to fail.

Once the lion’s position was confirmed through telemetry, field teams worked to anchor the animal in the area using bait, allowing our veterinary team to safely plan the immobilization procedure.

When the lion was finally darted and brought under anesthesia to replace the failing collar, the team discovered a serious injury - a wire snare tightly embedded around his neck.

During the procedure, the snare was carefully removed and the lion was fitted with a new tracking collar, restoring the ability to monitor his movements across the landscape. Once the intervention was complete, the animal was safely released.

For veterinary teams, operations like this are complex and highly coordinated. Locating wide-ranging carnivores, securing the site, immobilizing the animal safely, treating injuries, and restoring tracking capacity must all happen within a narrow window while the animal is under anesthesia.

Beyond the individual rescue, this lion’s journey reflects a broader conservation reality: wildlife continues to move between Gonarezhou, Coutada 5, and Zinave, confirming that ecological corridors across this transboundary landscape remain active.

We are proud to contribute the veterinary capacity that helps ensure these animals can survive the threats they encounter while moving across borders.

This operation was made possible through collaboration between ANAC, Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Peace Parks Foundation, Akashinga, and conservation teams working across Mozambique and Zimbabwe.