55 elephants die of hunger, thirst at Zim’s largest natural reserve

At least 55 elephants died over the past two months of hunger and thirst at Hwange National Park, the country's largest natural reserve, according to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority. 

"We can confirm that a total of 55 elephants have died at the national park over the past two months due to starvation,” the authority’s sposkesperson Tinashe Farawo was quoted as saying by state broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. 

“The situation at most of our parks is dire due to the climate change-induced drought." 

He said they are looking for funds to sink more boreholes. Another wildlife management official, Samson Chibaya, said the available boreholes were not enough to meet the water demand. 

"While we have made efforts to try and convert some of the water pumping stations from diesel to solar powered pumps, we have seen that some of the water pans are drying (up),” he said. 

“We are calling for more resources for installation of diesel pumps to complement the solar pumps."