In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, host Mike Arnold talks with longtime friend and professional hunter Mark Haldane about one of Africa’s most remarkable conservation success stories—Coutada 11 in Mozambique.

Haldane traces his path from a free-roaming childhood in South Africa to nearly four decades in the safari industry, culminating in his work restoring a war-ravaged landscape. When he first entered Coutada 11 in 1994, wildlife barely survived. Buffalo numbered in the hundreds, sable antelopes clung to a single small herd, and zebra nearly disappeared. Through protection, habitat recovery, and disciplined management, wildlife rebounded dramatically. Today, tens of thousands of animals roam freely across an unfenced ecosystem.

As the land healed, Haldane made a deliberate choice to restore balance by reintroducing apex predators. Lions, supported in part by Mary Cabela and her family, returned to the landscape under rigorous scientific monitoring. Hunting now removes less than one percent of the population while funding long-term protection.

The conversation also highlights community-driven conservation, including a thriving beekeeping program that empowers local women and a successful pangolin rehabilitation effort. Throughout the episode, Haldane delivers a clear message: when conservation creates real value for people, the wild comes back—and stays.

Sponsors of Bringing Back the Wild include Royal Outfitters UK, Life-Form Taxidermy, Zambeze Delta Safaris, Safari Specialty Importers, Travel Express, and AfricaSky Boutique Hotel.