While hunting in C9 Mozambique with the Duckworths, Mokore Safaris, I was privileged to witness the relocation of 50 buffalo into C9. After watching this, I wanted to share the story behind it.
In 2002, the Duckworths acquired this area in C9 and the game population had been decimated by 30 years of war. Buffalo numbers were extremely low, approximately 250, along with the rest of the wildlife. They began pouring their heart and soul plus a lot of money into it but didn't make a profit for 15 years. In 2015, Mokore released 50 buffalo, 2017 they released another 200 and with the PG responding to good management they were able to finally realise their first profit. This year, 100 more were released with hopefully 150 more next year(2025).
It's fascinating how the relocation takes place. After all the paper work, permits and red tape is done, they built a boma to hold the buffalo while they settle down. If you release them into the area to soon, they will go back to were they were captured. First, they are released into the first and smallest pen, kept a week are so, released into the next pen which is larger, kept for a couple of months, then released into the third and largest pen where they are kept for several months. After about 10 months, they will be turned out into the area. The capture team has it down to a science. The capture point is a big V with the point being the truck. Early in the morning of the capture day, the helicopter moves the herd close to the capture point then leaves them alone. Late that after noon, they move them into the V and load them on the truck. At 5:00 the were on the truck and headed to their new home. After driving all night, they arrive at the boma in C9. Doing it this way assures the buffalo are stressed the most during the coolest part of time.
By this time, the Duckworths had approximately $75,000 USD invested, building the boma, drilling boreholes,feed, capture and transportation. Over $1000 USD per head. None of this came from large cooperations, green companies or anti hunting groups. ALL of it came out of their pockets strictly from hunters dollars. Hunting is paying for All of the conservation which they are doing.
This is the story, we as hunters need to share with the large population who don't hunt but are not anti hunting. HUNTING IS CONSERVATION. Thank the Lord for people like the Duckworths who are willing to invest their money into this long term conservation of wildlife.


This is the pen they were released into. With the white plastic sheet around the fence, they won't touch it. Doug, the head of the capture team said even elephant would not bother it.


They were surprisingly calm in the trailer.


Just like unloading cattle. It was amazing.

Wish I would of been there to see it. Barry, Bertie and all of Duckworths have really put a lot of time, money and work into building up the game populations in Coutada 9. And from what I observed, their efforts are now paying off. They have a really good hunting concession.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing, Randy.

I read Mike Arnold's book, "Bringing Back the Lions" this summer while on vacation. It details the Haldane's efforts in Moz for reintroduction/rebuilding of game populations. Good read and/or audiobook.

Thank you very much Randy.
Brandon you can also watch "24 lions project" on the youtube.
Randy I am working on this effort to let people know hunting is conservation, you can watch my videos on youtube (mainly Spanish) and I am beginning to be broadcasted on Spanish TV.
We hunters lack on "selling" all we are doing for conservation of wildlife not only in Africa but all around the world. The antihunting people and many others, they invest almost all their money (money coming mainly from public budgets) on marketing. They are just big marketing machines giving no value to the wild ecosistems but just "selliing" shit to try to make people think they are important, but they are not, same as electric cars, climate change, etc, etc, just marketing behind to get the money, but adding no real value to wild areas or wild animals.
It is from long time that I am saying we need to join up and do something.

There is an example of this eco people I am talking about in my videos and articles. The name is ecologistas en accion, they are Spanish group.
If you check the amount of money they get annualy from public budgets is around 1,2 million euro. You know how much is their expense on salaries? just around same 1,2 million euro... Its disgusting. They just do marketing and live from it.

Best regards

This is fantastic!

Too bad the government "shorted" them 150.

This is so cool!