At least 123 elephants have died at the Hwange national park in western Zimbabwe from starvation caused by severe drought since August this year, with the highest fatalities occurring at the peak of the dry season in November.
The toll highlights the devastating effects of the prolonged drought and climate change on Zimbabwe’s wildlife.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the development to Southern Eye on Sunday.
“We have lost about 123 elephants in Hwange National Park since August to date," Farawo said.
"But the numbers increased significantly during the month of November because that's where we were now in the peak of the dry season."
The effects of the prolonged dry spell have been devastating, particularly for the most vulnerable elephants, particularly calves.
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"Most of the elephants which are affected are vulnerable — the young and the old, that cannot keep pace, that cannot afford to move long distances in search of water and food," Farawo said.
The drought has also increased human-wildlife conflict as animals venture into human settlements in search of water and food. Zimbabwe’s broader conservation challenges are becoming more apparent, with Farawo pointing to biodiversity loss and habitat destruction as devastating to wildlife.
“The animals are becoming a danger unto themselves because they are destroying their own interests, they are destroying their own habitat, which is, like I say again, forcing animals to move long distances," he said..
In an effort to address the crisis, the government announced plans to cull 200 baby elephants to reduce pressure on dwindling resources.
However, Farawo clarified that no action has been taken yet.
“I think the issue of culling is not something that has been implemented because we are putting modalities in place,” he said.
Farawo said ZimParks continued to respond to distress calls from communities experiencing conflict with hungry wild animals.
“When we receive distress calls from communities, we move in, we restore order. either we eliminate the animals or we scare them away.
"Normally, when human life is under threat, that’s what we do,” Farawo said, adding that elephants were often at the centre of these incidents.
He also emphasised the importance of collaboration with law enforcement and judicial bodies in tackling threats to wildlife.
“We have been working closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police through their operation in Nhakayedu, which is bearing fruit,” Farawo said.
"We also work closely with the Judicial Service Commission in terms of sentencing,” he said.
The dry conditions in Hwange have been particularly challenging for its wildlife, with the El Niño-induced drought worsening the situation.
The drought has pushed the park’s huge jumbo population elephants to the brink, and while rains have provided some respite, the long-term challenges remain.
According to ZimParks, the country’s elephant population has risen to over 90 000, more than twice the 45 000 it can sustain, a situation resulting in recurring cases of human-animal conflict.