What was Operation Noah at Lake Kariba?

Operation Noah was a major rescue mission conducted during the creation of Lake Kariba on the Zambezi River. As the Kariba Dam flooded the surrounding valley, thousands of wild animals were trapped by the rising waters.1

The operation involved the systematic evacuation and rescue of these animals to ensure their survival as their natural habitats were submerged. This effort was a significant component of the broader environmental and social management required by the dam project, which also necessitated the resettlement of more than 30,000 Batonka tribespeople.12