As a result of the prolonged drought observed from August to December 2023, more than 160 elephants have died in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, and this number is likely to continue to rise as weather conditions remain unfavorable, reports the British publication Daily Mail.
According to a representative of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Tinash Farawo, the mass death of elephants occurred due to a prolonged lack of rainfall. Last year, the amount of rainfall in the region decreased by nearly 50%, leading to overheating, starvation, and dehydration among elephants. Young individuals were particularly affected, and it is difficult to determine the exact number of dead animals.
Ecologists report that during observations in September of last year, over 1,800 elephants attempted to drink from a single water source, and unfortunately, not all of them succeeded.
Currently, park staff are urgently drilling new wells to provide water for the elephants living in the vicinity and to reduce the pressure on existing watering holes. Additionally, solar-powered pumps are being installed on existing wells.
The publication emphasizes that this is not the first case of mass elephant deaths due to drought in Zimbabwe. In 2019, over 200 animals died in two months due to a lack of water.
