Operation Noah (Kariba)
Encyclopedia
Operation Noah was a wildlife rescue operation in Rhodesia
(Zimbabwe
) lasting from 1958 to 1964, caused by the creation of Lake Kariba
on the Zambezi
by the Kariba Dam
. In the late 1950s, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) became home to the world’s largest man-made dam - a hydroelectric power station built across the Zambezi River, about 400km from Victoria Falls. It would provide power for most of the country, but in the process form Lake Kariba and flood the Zambezi Valley – home to thousands of native animals. In a wildlife rescue operation lasting 5 years, over 6000 animals were rescued and relocated to the mainland.
The operation was led by Rupert Fothergill. Wildlife moved from the rising waters and largely relocated to Matusadona National Park
and around Lake Kariba. Over 6,000 animals (elephant, antelope, rhino, lion, leopard, zebra, warthog, small birds and even snakes) were rescued.
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
) lasting from 1958 to 1964, caused by the creation of Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba is the world's largest artificial lake and reservoir. It lies 1300 kilometers upstream from the Indian Ocean, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe...
on the Zambezi
Zambezi
The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is , slightly less than half that of the Nile...
by the Kariba Dam
Kariba Dam
The Kariba Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is one of the largest dams in the world, standing tall and long.- Construction :...
. In the late 1950s, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) became home to the world’s largest man-made dam - a hydroelectric power station built across the Zambezi River, about 400km from Victoria Falls. It would provide power for most of the country, but in the process form Lake Kariba and flood the Zambezi Valley – home to thousands of native animals. In a wildlife rescue operation lasting 5 years, over 6000 animals were rescued and relocated to the mainland.
The operation was led by Rupert Fothergill. Wildlife moved from the rising waters and largely relocated to Matusadona National Park
Matusadona National Park
Matusadona is a game reserve park in northern Zimbabwe. The park takes its name from the local Matuzviadonha Hills and is a stunning combination of flat plains and rugged mountain country. The meaning of “Matuzviadonha” is “falling dung” - which was probably a comment on the sight of elephants...
and around Lake Kariba. Over 6,000 animals (elephant, antelope, rhino, lion, leopard, zebra, warthog, small birds and even snakes) were rescued.