The Zambian government announced on July 10, that it would restock five of its national parks with wildlife during the course of the year, in an effort to boost the country’s tourism.

Permanent Secretary for the Zambian Ministry of Tourism and Arts, Howard Sikwela, said the national parks would be restocked with 1 361 species, such as Black rhino, impala, buffalo, White rhino, hartebeest and zebra.

"The restocking of wildlife is quite an expensive exercise, but we just have to do it to improve the animal population in our national parks, which will in turn boost tourism in the nation," Sikwela was quoted as saying by the state-run Zambia Daily Mail.

According to Sikwela, some of the wildlife species in the national parks had become extinct due to activities such as poaching.

Zambia’s wildlife areas comprise 20 national parks and 36 game management areas, all of which make a significant contribution to its national economy.