OPERATION MALAWI 1986 & 1991 – THE HISTORIC WILDLIFE TRANSLOCATION MISSIONS

The remarkable story of Dr. Johan Kriek, Kriek Wildlife Group and two pioneering wildlife importation operations that helped shape South Africa's game ranching and wildlife breeding industry.

Few wildlife conservation projects in Southern Africa have demonstrated the same level of ambition, logistical complexity and dedication as the Malawi wildlife translocation operations of 1986 and 1991, led by veterinarian and wildlife capture specialist Dr. Johan Kriek.

These two extraordinary expeditions involved the capture, veterinary immobilisation, transportation and relocation of valuable African wildlife from Malawi to South Africa. Among the animals were magnificent Roan antelope, Sable antelope and Lichtenstein's hartebeest.

Combining helicopter operations, international aviation logistics, veterinary expertise and a dedicated team of professionals, these missions represented important milestones in the development of wildlife translocation and game ranching in Southern Africa.

Today, the history of these operations forms part of the conservation heritage of Kriek Wildlife Group and Mattanu Private Game Reserve, where descendants of the original 1991 breeding herd can still be found.

OPERATION MALAWI 1986 – THE BEGINNING OF A HISTORIC WILDLIFE PROJECT

The groundwork for Operation Malawi began in 1984, following the importation of Tsessebe from Zimbabwe. This experience inspired Dr. Johan Kriek to pursue larger wildlife translocation projects and expand the availability of valuable African antelope species for South African game ranching.

In 1986, plans became reality when Dr. Kriek organised an ambitious wildlife importation operation from Malawi to South Africa.

The objective was to capture and relocate several important antelope species, establishing new breeding populations and introducing valuable genetic stock to South African wildlife reserves.

An enormous logistical undertaking

The scale of the 1986 operation was substantial for its time.

Three Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft had to be chartered to transport equipment, a helicopter, capture infrastructure and animal feed from South Africa to Malawi.

What was initially expected to cost approximately R33,000 eventually grew into a project costing approximately R560,000. Two additional flights were required to transport the captured animals back to South Africa.

A Hughes 300 helicopter was transported to Malawi, together with the necessary boma equipment for the capture operation.

The team included:

• Dr. Johan Kriek – Operation organiser, capture and wildlife veterinarian.

• Johan Lategan – Helicopter pilot 1986

• Leon van Zyl – Responsible for constructing and managing the capture bomas.

• Dr. Otto Kriek - Veterinarian & brother of Dr. Johan Kriek

• Dr. Heimie Ebedees – Experienced veterinary specialist in chemical immobilisation.

• Dr. Peter Rodgers - Veterinarian at quarantine station

• Basil Sapucci - Mechanical support, loading & transport

  
  

The Roan and Sable antelope were captured in Kasungu National Park, Malawi.

Local cattle trucks were hired to transport the animals. Strict attention was given to disease-control procedures, with the trucks thoroughly disinfected using washing soda to reduce the risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease.

The journey from Malawi to South Africa

Following capture, the animals underwent quarantine procedures at Lilongwe before being transported approximately 20 kilometres to Kamuzu International Airport.

From there, the animals were airlifted to Pietersburg (now Polokwane) in South Africa, arriving at the Air Force Base.

The unloading process required forklifts and additional transport arrangements, after which the animals were moved by truck to a quarantine station outside Pietersburg.

Here, they received the necessary care and attention before being released into their new environments.

A historic wildlife auction in Pietersburg

Following the successful operation, Dr. Johan Kriek organised a significant wildlife auction at Jack Botes Hall in Pietersburg.

The auction featured three important antelope species, creating a landmark event for South African wildlife breeding and game ranching.

The animals included:

• 21 Roan antelope – Sold for approximately R14,250 each.

• 14 Sable antelope – Sold for approximately R7,000 each, establishing a world record at the time.

• 50 Lichtenstein's hartebeest – An important addition to wildlife breeding programmes in South Africa.

The translocation of Lichtenstein's hartebeest presented particular challenges, especially concerning calf survival. The reported success rate was approximately 66%, while significant mortality was also experienced by the parks during another operation, with 70% deaths reported.

Despite these difficulties, Operation Malawi 1986 demonstrated what could be achieved through careful planning, specialised wildlife capture techniques and international cooperation.

It also laid the foundation for an even larger undertaking five years later.

OPERATION MALAWI 1991 – AN EVEN BIGGER CONSERVATION MISSION

In 1991, Dr. Johan Kriek returned to Malawi to lead another ambitious wildlife translocation operation.

Building on the experience gained during the 1986 expedition, the second operation was considerably larger in scale and involved additional veterinary professionals, aviation specialists and support personnel.

With an estimated cost of approximately R1.8 million, Operation Malawi 1991 became a major logistical and financial undertaking.

The objective was to capture Roan and Sable antelope and establish valuable breeding herds at wildlife reserves throughout South Africa.

Capturing Roan and Sable antelope in Malawi

The 1991 operation involved two separate national parks, each presenting its own challenges.

Sable antelope – Liwonde National Park

The Sable antelope were captured in Liwonde National Park in Malawi.

Roan antelope – Nyika National Park

The Roan antelope were captured approximately 800 kilometres further north at Nyika National Park.

Situated at an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet, Nyika presented difficult terrain, high-altitude conditions and challenging operating environments.

Helicopter operations in challenging terrain

A Bell JetRanger 206 turbine helicopter was used during the 1991 capture operation.

The turbine-powered helicopter was particularly important when operating at Nyika's high elevation, where the available power of a piston-engine helicopter would be more limited.

The aircraft was also equipped with a cargo hook for aerial lifting operations in the challenging terrain.

During the expedition, the JetRanger accumulated approximately 104 flight hours.

The operation also required substantial veterinary resources, with approximately R40,000 spent on immobilisation drugs.

The team darted between six and twelve Roan antelope per day, transporting the immobilised animals to the quarantine station at Mzuzu.

Capture sessions were generally planned for every second day, allowing sufficient time for animal care, monitoring and recovery between demanding capture operations.

Veterinary expertise and animal welfare

Animal welfare was an essential part of the operation.

Immobilised animals required continuous attention and careful handling during transportation and quarantine.

The veterinary team monitored their condition and took precautions to reduce the risks associated with prolonged immobilisation.

This included:

• Regularly repositioning immobilised animals.

• Keeping their heads elevated to reduce the risk of bloating.

• Applying eye drops to prevent their eyes from drying out.

• Using ropes secured to their horns to help maintain an elevated head position during transportation.

• Monitoring animals throughout the recovery and quarantine process.

Some animals remained immobilised for as long as 11 hours, illustrating the considerable veterinary expertise and commitment required during the operation.

Five C-130 Hercules flights to South Africa

Transporting the animals back to South Africa required five Lockheed C-130 Hercules flights.

The operation had to be completed during the Malawian summer, with the animals scheduled to depart by 3 November.

Unfortunately, logistical delays resulted in the loss of five animals when personnel arrived too late for a scheduled flight.

Local Malawian cattle trucks were again used to transport the animals, with disinfection procedures implemented to reduce the risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease.

The quarantine facilities at Lilongwe and Mzuzu were approximately 400 kilometres apart, creating additional transportation and logistical challenges.

Animal feed also had to be organised and transported to Malawi. Lucerne was purchased at approximately R50 per small bale.

Upon arrival in South Africa, the heavy animal crates had to be unloaded using rollers and forklifts. When some forklifts proved to have forks that were too short, the team improvised extensions to move the crates safely.

These practical challenges demonstrate just how much planning, resourcefulness and teamwork were required to complete an operation of this magnitude.

THE TEAM BEHIND OPERATION MALAWI 1991

An undertaking of this scale could not have been achieved by one person alone.

The 1991 expedition brought together an experienced team of veterinarians, pilots, mechanical specialists and documentation personnel.

The team included:

Dr. Johan Kriek – Operation leader, veterinarian and wildlife capture specialist.

Daleen Kriek – Wife of Dr. Johan Kriek and member of the expedition team.

Dr. Dirk Neethling – Veterinarian and close friend of Dr. Kriek.

Dr. Jan Marais – Veterinarian and close friend of Dr. Kriek.

Dirk Alberts – Commercial pilot.

Dr. Kabols le Riche - Veterinarian at quarantine station

Dr. Riaan Tolken - Veterinarian at quarantine station

Gideon Chomse – Dr. Kriek's cousin, responsible for much of the mechanical support.

Frans Hancke and Jannie Breugem – Responsible for documenting and filming the operation.

The combined experience and dedication of these individuals were essential to the success of the expedition.

Their work involved far more than capturing animals. It required managing aviation operations, veterinary procedures, transport arrangements, quarantine facilities, equipment and the welfare of valuable wildlife over thousands of kilometres.

ESTABLISHING NEW ROAN AND SABLE BREEDING HERDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

One of the most important outcomes of Operation Malawi 1991 was the establishment of new Roan and Sable antelope breeding herds throughout South Africa.

Following their arrival and quarantine, the animals were sold to several wildlife reserves, where they became the foundation of important breeding populations.

Dr. Johan Kriek also retained a foundation herd for his own wildlife conservation activities.

In December 1991, these animals were released at Mattanu Private Game Reserve in the Northern Cape.

Today, descendants of these original animals can still be found at Mattanu, providing a remarkable living connection to the historic Malawi operation.

Their presence represents more than the continuation of a breeding herd. It preserves a part of Southern African wildlife conservation history and the pioneering work undertaken by Dr. Johan Kriek and his team.

DR. JOHAN KRIEK AND THE LEGACY OF KRIEK WILDLIFE GROUP

The Malawi operations of 1986 and 1991 form part of the wider wildlife conservation history associated with Dr. Johan Kriek.

With extensive experience in wildlife veterinary work, chemical immobilisation, wildlife capture and translocation, Dr. Kriek became involved in projects that required a combination of specialised knowledge, practical experience and a deep understanding of African wildlife.

These operations demonstrated the importance of bringing together different disciplines, including:

• Veterinary medicine and chemical immobilisation.

• Helicopter-supported wildlife capture.

• International wildlife transportation.

• Quarantine and disease-control procedures.

• Wildlife breeding and game ranching.

• Conservation management and the establishment of new breeding populations.

The experience gained during these expeditions contributed to the broader development of wildlife capture and translocation operations in Southern Africa.

Through Kriek Wildlife Group and its association with Mattanu Private Game Reserve, this history remains an important part of the family's wildlife conservation heritage.

A PIECE OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION HISTORY

Looking back at Operation Malawi 1986 and Operation Malawi 1991, it is difficult not to appreciate the enormous effort involved.

Chartering Hercules aircraft, transporting helicopters and capture equipment, working in remote national parks, managing veterinary procedures and moving valuable wildlife across international borders were extraordinary undertakings for their time.

The two operations were not without challenges or losses, but they demonstrated the dedication, experience and determination required to undertake large-scale wildlife translocation projects.

Most importantly, the 1991 foundation herd released at Mattanu in December of that year continues to connect present generations with this remarkable chapter in African wildlife history.

All glory to God for the blessing on these operations. Without His blessing, this would not have been possible!

These are not simply stories about moving animals from one country to another. They are stories about vision, pioneering conservation work, teamwork and a lasting commitment to preserving Africa's wildlife heritage.

VISIT MATTANU PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Discover the wildlife, conservation heritage and African safari experiences of Mattanu Private Game Reserve.

Experience the natural beauty of the Northern Cape and learn more about the wildlife and conservation history associated with Dr. Johan Kriek and Kriek Wildlife Group.

Mattanu Private Game Reserve: https://www.mattanu.com

Kriek Wildlife Group: https://www.kriekwildlife.com

Kriek Helicopters: https://www.kriekheli.com

For more information about wildlife sales, wildlife capture, helicopter-supported wildlife operations and conservation services, visit the websites above.

Preserving Africa's wildlife heritage for future generations.