At least 160 elephants have died as drought conditions hit Zimbabwe, and with hot, dry weather likely to continue, conservationists fear there could be more deaths to come.
During the period of August to December of last year, a total of 14,651 square kilometers in the Hwange national park experienced the deaths of several elephants. This park is known for being the habitat of at-risk animals such as elephants, buffalo, lions, cheetahs, and giraffes. Furthermore, there have been reports of at least six additional elephants found deceased outside of the park, believed to be victims of poaching.
Zimbabwe’s Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, known as Zimparks, has verified the passing of elephants in the park due to drought.
On Tuesday, Tinashe Farawo, a representative of Zimparks, stated that their tests have revealed that the animals were succumbing to starvation. The majority of the animals were perishing within a distance of 50m and 100m from water sources.
According to the park, the majority of the deceased elephants were either youthful, elderly, or ill.
Persistent dry weather, droughts and prolonged dry periods are intensifying across southern Africa. In 2023, there was no rainfall between February and November in the Hwange park, said Trevor Lane, the co-founder and head of the Bhejane Trust conservation group inside Hwange.
Lane stated that a combination of poor nutrition, extreme temperatures, and limited water supply resulted in significant stress, which could potentially occur again in 2024.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a powerful El Niño event from October to March, causing hot and arid conditions with minimal precipitation. In its November report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that this could result in a delay in rainfall and longer periods of dry weather, potentially causing drought in Zimbabwe.
According to the statement, by the end of 2023, most of Zimbabwe had received less than 50% of the total expected rainfall for the season compared to the average amount.
Conservation groups in Hwange are now rushing to drill more boreholes in a bid to spread the elephants out into areas where food is more readily available. They are also installing solar-powered systems on existing boreholes to extend pumping hours to meet the expected pressure in the hot season from August.
Lane stated that there is a possibility of experiencing an El Niño and severe drought in 2024. They are prepared to take action to lessen the impact, but ultimately it will come down to survival of the strongest. If another drought occurs, they will have to endure the same challenges once more.
In previous instances, dry spells have resulted in significant numbers of elephant deaths in Zimbabwe. For example, in 2019, over 200 elephants perished within a two-month period due to a scarcity of water.
According to experts in Hwange, both veterinarians and conservationists, the initial deaths of elephants occurred in close proximity to a heavily utilized water source within the park. As time passed, the fatalities became more widespread and were no longer concentrated in specific areas.
During a September count, a different conservationist reported that over 1,800 elephants were attempting to access water from a solitary source.
The conservationist, who wished to remain anonymous due to lack of permission from Zimparks, expressed dismay at witnessing orphaned calves wandering aimlessly and the sight and stench of deceased elephants during drives.
They stated: “The concern we should have is the potential impact of climate change, which could make the current loss of animals due to drought seem insignificant.”
Due to increasingly severe drought, there has been a rise in poaching activity, posing a threat to Zimbabwe’s elephants and other animals. In the month of January, six new elephant deaths were documented in Gwayi, a region near Hwange park, and have been linked to poaching by organizations focused on conservation and environmental law.
Zimparks verified the fatalities and stated that veterinarians were currently examining the reason behind them. Conservation organizations suggest that the elephants’ tusks had been removed, indicating the presence of ivory poachers.
According to a statement from the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, the poaching incident in Gwayi is happening in the context of a growing problem of illegal wildlife trade and crimes against wildlife.
Lane reported a rise in bushmeat hunting, which he believes is due to the economic struggles in Zimbabwe based on his own observations and those of other organizations. He stated that people are becoming desperate and turning to illegal hunting of wildlife.
In December, as the lean season drew near, USAid’s Famine Early Warning Systems Network reported that “the majority of impoverished households have exhausted their own food reserves”, and the overall food security of the country was classified as either “stressed” or “crisis”.
Nick Long, who undertakes anti-poaching patrols and programmes in Hwange, also confirmed “a surge in bushmeat poaching countrywide”, especially from November into December. “It [bushmeat poaching] was very noticeable in the Victoria Falls area. Our sister organisation, Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit, has had a busy December chasing poachers around,” he said.
According to Zimparks, they are effectively addressing the issue of elephant poaching in Zimbabwe. They have not experienced significant losses of animals, with no recorded instances of poached elephants in Hwange over the past two years. Farawo emphasized the importance of continuing their efforts in law enforcement and patrolling.
Source: theguardian.com
