Key Takeaways
- The drought linked to El Nino has led to the death of at least 100 elephants in Hwange National Park.
- Only 104 solar‑powered boreholes are operational, insufficient for the 45,000 elephants that call the reserve home.
- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) urges immediate water provision to prevent further wildlife loss.
Harare: At least 100 elephants have died in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve, due to the El Nino‑induced drought.
An international animal welfare and conservation group reported this on Monday.
Summer rains are five weeks late due to the ongoing El Nino phenomenon, as dozens of elephants have already died in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest protected area, home to about 45,000 elephants, said the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in a statement.
“At least 100 elephants are already reported dead due to lack of water,” it said.
The organization said the 104 solar-powered boreholes in the park were inadequate to match extreme temperatures that are drying up existing waterholes, forcing wildlife to walk long distances in search of food and water.
