the sanctuaries, and the rhinoceros conservation effort within the park continues. In November 2019, 17 black rhinos were transported from South Africa to the park. The translocation was carried out by African Parks, in conjunction with WWF South Africa, the DNPW, and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Predators In May 2017, African Parks relocated seven cheetahs from South Africa, becoming Malawi's first wild cheetahs in twenty years. These were the first large predators to be reintroduced to the park, after being absent from this part of the country for around a century. Endangered Wildlife Trust's Cheetah Metapopulation Project and DNPW assisted with the relocation. Since 2017, the cheetah population has increased to 21 individuals. Liwonde park officials had hoped to introduce female lions in 2012. The last reported sighting of a male lion was in 2015. Park officials still planned to reintroduce lions and leopard, as of 2017. In early 2018, African Parks reintroduced 9 lions into Liwonde. The DNPW, the Dutch Government, and the Lion Recovery Fund assisted with the relocation. The lion population has since adjusted well, and the first cub was born in 2020. In an effort to boost the park's hyaena numbers, six animals were reintroduced from a private property in Kasungu, bringing the population to about 25. In July 2020, a pack of eight African wild dogs was reintroduced in the park, following decades since their local extinction. The pack adapted well to its new environment, and six weeks after their relocation, the first litter of pups was confirmed to be born. Tragically, in November 2022 the pack were all killed following the intentional poisoning of a waterhole within Liwonde National Park. Birds Biome-restricted bird species in the park include: white-starred robin, brown-headed parrot, brown-breasted barbet, pale batis, Dickinson's kestrel, Lilian's lovebird, Böhm's bee-eater, racket-tailed roller, pale-billed hornbill, Kurrichane thrush, Arnot's chat, white-bellied sunbird, black-eared seedeater, broad-tailed paradise whydah, Meves's starling. The park is the only location in Malawi where Lilian's lovebird and the brown-breasted barbet are found. According to African Parks, there are at least six different species of vultures in Liwonde, four of which are critically endangered. In 2011, Birdlife International and the Good Gifts Catalogue raised funds to survey and monitor the threatened Lilian's lovebird. Park rangers and local students worked with the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi to research Lilian's lovebirds in 2012. There have been repeated requests to allow birds in