During 1970s, the Ministry of Tourism under the Siad Barre administration sought to center the tourist industry in the vicinity of the park, By 1989, newer legislation was drafted governing the establishment of national parks, game reserves and special reserves.

After the collapse of the central government of Somalia, a group of diaspora from the sheekhaal community tried to restore wildlife tourism in their region Middle Juba, and they held various conference meetings in many places outside of the country they agreed to build the park with contribution fund.

African bush elephant population low in the 1980s caused by poaching, and numbered over 100 before begin Somali Civil War 1991.

Other mammal carnivores include the Cheetah, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, honey badger, caracal, serval, banded mongoose.

The African wild dog was reintroduced to the area in 1980s after disappearing in 1991 when the Somali Civil War begun.