Massive and widespread poaching drove wildlife to near extinction in many parts of Mozambique. A civil war spanning 1977-1992 saw tens of thousands of animals eaten by villagers and soldiers for survival, playing its part in creating wastelands throughout the country.
In 1994, Zambeze Delta Safaris was established by Mark Haldane and Carlos Faria in the Coutada 11 block of the Marromeu Complex in eastern Mozambique. The aim was to restore the once flourishing ecosystems and the animals that thrived in the area. In , Mike Arnold communicates the important message of conservation through paid trophy hunting as
