Fourteen giraffes have been transported 1,300km (800 miles) from central Namibia to be reintroduced into the Iona National Park in neighbouring Angola – where they had been absent for decades, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) says.
The GCF, which sponsored the move, described restoring the species to the park as “a huge success for conservation and giraffe in the wild”.
“The reintroduction of giraffe to Iona National Park is a remarkable milestone in Angola’s conservation journey. This significant endeavour demonstrates our commitment to preserving our country’s natural heritage,” said Environment Minister Abias Huongo.
GCF says that recent efforts to protect giraffes have seen their population “start to rebound” after 35 years of decline “due to habitat loss, poaching, and other human-induced factors”.