Nuanetsi Ranch: A Model for Conservation and Sustainable Wildlife Use
Nuanetsi Ranch, named after the river that winds through its heart, occupies a unique place in Zimbabwe’s southeastern lowveld. The Nuanetsi River, broad and sandy with its string of permanent and seasonal pools shaded by grand trees like the wild fig, has always been a perfect refuge for game.
Nuanetsi Ranch was founded in 1910 by the Imperial Cold Storage and Supply Company as a large cattle operation. In 2007, it partnered with Cutstar Investments to form Zimbabwe Bio-Energy (ZBE) and shifted its focus to conservation through sustainable wildlife use. By 2009 ZBE had fenced the game area, brought in elephants and buffaloes, and laid the groundwork for a wildlife-based economy.
Safari hunting, first introduced in the 1990s, is now Nuanetsi Ranch’s main source of income. By using science-based quotas that target only mature animals and by reinvesting revenue into protection efforts, it provides a model for maintaining a balance between biodiversity and productivity. This model also serves as a buffer against drought and climate change. While the ranch is fenced and reliant on hunting, it continues to protect the natural, dynamic systems of its ecosystem to continue functioning with minimal human interference. By using this model, the ranch supports both wildlife and local communities
Leopards, elusive and iconic, hold special significance for Nuanetsi Ranch. Not only do they represent an apex predator critical to the balance of its ecosystem, but they also contribute significantly to the ranch’s conservation funding through regulated trophy hunting.
To manage this resource responsibly, ZBE launched an intensive monitoring program in 2019. Using baited camera traps across the property, researchers annually estimate leopard density, study spatial distribution, and track population trends. This initiative builds on a remarkable archive of leopard data dating back to 2012, compiled through the field observations of professional hunters.
Each leopard is measured against this database to ensure that only older, mature males are harvested. Such selectivity preserves breeding populations, maintains genetic diversity, and ensures hunting remains sustainable for the long term.
The program’s objectives are ambitious yet practical:
- Estimate leopard density in both the game and cattle sections.
- Monitor long-term population trends.
- Record age and sex of the leopard population to guide quotas.
- Maintain a detailed identikit of individuals for accurate monitoring.
Notably, the monitoring extends beyond the game section into the ranch’s cattle areas, where a smaller yet resilient leopard population continues to coexist alongside livestock. This demonstrates that with careful management, agriculture and wildlife conservation can thrive side by side.
Looking Ahead…
The Rowland Ward Foundation, in partnership with ZBE, is committed to supporting these efforts because we recognize the importance of models like Nuanetsi to global conservation. At Nuanetsi, leopards are not merely a symbol of wild fauna or a target for safari hunters but a keystone species sustaining both biodiversity and the livelihoods that depend on it. Through its science-led management, Nuanetsi continues to show how conservation and wildlife utilization can reinforce one another while setting an example for the entire region and beyond.
