HARARE, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) — Droughts caused by El Niño have increased, killing at least 100 elephants in Hwange National Park, the International Fund for Animal Welfare reported on Monday. It is the largest wildlife reserve in Zimbabwe.
Statement from the Fund The El Niño phenomenon has caused summer rains to fall about five weeks later than usual, and the park, which is the largest protected area in Zimbabwe and home to about 45,000 elephants, has reported that at least 100 elephants have died due to drought already.
The Fund said that the park’s 104 solar-powered groundwater wells are not sufficient to cope with the extreme temperatures that lead to the drying up of existing water basins. This forces wild animals to travel long distances in search of food and water.
Water-loving mammals such as elephants are among the most affected land animals. By elephants and other wild animals, they will face a crisis if the rains do not fall soon.
In Zimbabwe, more than 200 elephants died due to drought in 2019, and the Fund indicates that this is happening again.
The Fund concludes that elephant deaths in Zimbabwe are a symptom of deep-rooted and complex challenges affecting the conservation of natural resources in the region. This is exacerbated by climate change.
(Xinhua Archive Photo: Elephants in Mana Pools National Park, Mashonalan District, western Zimbabwe, September 22, 2018)
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