Africa

Zimbabwe Signs Raptors MoU, Strengthening Global Raptor Conservation

Zimbabwe has become the 66th country to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU), bolstering international efforts to safeguard species of eagles, vultures, falcons and other raptors along their vast flyways. The signing ceremony was held on 22 May 2025 at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) during the SADC Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) Conference and Summit. Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, signed on behalf of Zimbabwe, while Umberto Gallo Orsi represented the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Secretariat, under which the Raptors MoU is hosted.

23 May 2025

Uganda Takes Flight for Raptor Conservation, Joins International Agreement and Launches National Strategy

In a significant move to safeguard its rich avian biodiversity, Uganda has officially become the 65th Signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU). The signing ceremony, coinciding with the 25th anniversary celebrations of Uganda's commitment to the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), marks a pivotal step in the nation's conservation efforts.

03 April 2025

International experts meet to support raptor conservation

Raptor Experts from Asia, Africa and Europe, members of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the Memorandum of Understanding on the conservation of migratory birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU) met for the 9th meeting of the TAG in the spectacular Monfragüe National Park. The meeting was generously hosted by the Spanish Government in cooperation with the Junta of Extremadura and the Monfragüe National Park

24 March 2025

Fact Sheet on Wildbeest Migration

The migratory Serengeti-Mara wildebeest population is the largest of four populations of wildebeest within the Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem, totaling approximately 1,300,000 animals. The three other populations either do not migrate or have ceased migrating. Seasonal rainfall drives the wildebeest migration.

05 September 2024

Fact Sheet on Plains Zebra Migration, Makgadikgadi

Zebras in this region migrate between the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana and the Makgadikgadi National Park, which are over 200 km apart. The animals spend the dry season in the Okavango Delta, a unique wetland system that provides the zebra with forage and water throughout the dry season. Once the rainy season arrives, the zebras migrate to the grasslands surrounding the Makgadikgadi salt pans.

05 September 2024

Fact Sheet on Cape Buffalo Migration

Cape buffalo rely on consistent access to large amounts of water, so they time their movements to stay close to water sources. In northern Botswana, rainfall is highly seasonal, falling between November and March. The rains fill ephemeral waterholes and promote the growth of annual, productive grasses.

05 September 2024

Fact Sheet on Plains Zebra Migrating, Zambezi

In one of Africa’s longest-documented mammal migrations, plains zebra travel 250 km from their dry season ranges along the Chobe River in Namibia to reach areas in and around Nxai Pan National Park in northern Botswana. Zebra begin their trek at the beginning of the wet season, typically December.

28 April 2025

Fact Sheet on Plains Zebra Migration, Serengeti-Mara

More than 200,000 zebras migrate through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, constituting Africa’s largest zebra migration, according to the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute. Zebras in the greater Serengeti-Mara ecosystem migrate primarily in response to seasonal rains. During the wet season, family groups (usually a stallion plus two or three mares and their offspring) merge with others to form large herds and migrate to the southern grasslands.

05 September 2024

Fact Sheet on African Elephant Migration

More than 40,000 elephants roam Hwange National Park in the dry season, where they access artificial waterholes to survive seasonal drought. Elephants visit the waterholes every other day throughout the dry season but vanish when the rains arrive between October and December.

04 September 2024