In the late 1950s, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) became home to the world’s largest man-made dam - a hydroelectric power station built across the Zambezi River, about 400km from Victoria Falls. It would provide power for most of the country, but in the process form Lake Kariba and flood the Zambezi Valley – home to thousands of native animals. In a wildlife rescue operation lasting 5 years, over 6000 animals were rescued and relocated to the mainland.
May 1959: Rupert Fothergill, Senior Game Ranger, and an assistant, are seen standing on the submerged branches of a tree which has been very nearly covered by the rising waters of Lake Kariba, while they wait for the rescue boat to pick them up. Fothergill is holding a Hyrax, locally known as a "Dassie" or "Rock Rabbit", which he has just rescued.
May 1959: Rupert Fothergill