EROSION has hit four pools at one of the country’s holiday resorts, Manapools National Park in the mid-Zambezi region.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) area manager for Mana Pools National Park, Edmore Ngosi confirmed the issue during a tour of the area organised by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF).
He said besides climate change having affected the four critical pools in the park, erosion was also a major factor leading to siltation of the pools.
“The four pools used to be perennial pools holding water for the whole year, but because of erosion by wildlife, water is now seasonal. Some of the animals contributing to this erosion include elephant species, buffaloes and others. We have two pools which have been seasonally losing water and this has been worrisome because some of these animals depend on pools for water,” Ngosi said.
Mana Pools National Park is located in Zimbabwe along the Zambezi River and the border of Zambia. The park covers an area of 2 612 square miles (6 766 sq km).
This broad plain area generates a series of lakes during the rainy season.
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As the waters begin to recede, the remaining pools become excellent game viewing locations as wildlife flocks to these natural watering holes.
It is these remaining pools that draw the animals to the area and create the spectacular game viewing setting.
The Mana Pools were combined with the Sapi Safari Area and Chewore Safari Area to create a single Unesco World Heritage site in 1984.
It is also classified as a wetland of international importance by Ramsar. The national park area is also contiguous with Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park.
However, it is not easy to travel between the two parks.
The affected four pools are recognised as a permanent feature in the area.