HARARE: More than 100 elephants have perished in Zimbabwe’s largest national park, Hwange National Park, in recent weeks due to the tragic consequence of climate change and the El Nino weather phenomenon. Authorities and conservation groups are sounding the alarm, warning that the grim scenario is a distressing indication of the profound impact of climate change on wildlife.
The prolonged drought, exacerbated by El Nino, has created a dire situation in Hwange National Park, with authorities cautioning that additional casualties are likely if the region continues to face a scarcity of rains and rising temperatures. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has labeled the situation a crisis for elephants and other wildlife.
Tinashe Farawo, spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, expressed concern, stating, “El Nino is making an already dire situation worse.” El Nino, a recurring weather phenomenon, has warmed parts of the Pacific, influencing global weather patterns. This year’s El Nino has resulted in below-average rainfall across southern Africa.
The delayed onset of the rainy season in Zimbabwe, coupled with forecasts for a dry and hot summer, has further intensified the challenges faced by wildlife in the region. Climate change is believed to be contributing to the strengthening of El Ninos.
In 2019, Drought Killed 200 Elephants in Hwange
Phillip Kuvawoga, a landscape program director at IFAW, highlighted the recurring nature of the phenomenon, recalling the severe drought in 2019 when over 200 elephants in Hwange lost their lives. The recent distressing scenes include a video posted by Farawo on social media, showing a young elephant struggling in mud at a water hole that had partially dried up.
The adverse conditions disproportionately impact the young, elderly, and sick elephants that struggle to travel long distances in search of water. Park rangers, as a protective measure, remove tusks from deceased elephants to prevent them from attracting poachers.
Hwange National Park, spanning 14,500 square kilometers, is home to approximately 45,000 elephants and diverse wildlife. Conservationists emphasize the crucial role of elephants in fighting climate change through ecosystem support, dispersing seeds, and facilitating forest regeneration.
Conservation groups, such as The Bhejane Trust, are actively involved in addressing the water crisis in Hwange. Trevor Lane, the director of The Bhejane Trust, underscored the broader significance of saving elephants, stating, “They perform a far bigger role than humans in reforestation.
