Heat wave kills more than 77 elephants in Zimbabwe

Heat wave kills more than 77 elephants in Zimbabwe

Nov 23, 11:40 AM EST

By ANGUS SHAW
Associated Press

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- More than 77 elephants have died in a three-month 
heat wave that has dried up watering holes in western Zimbabwe, wildlife 
authorities said Wednesday

Rangers in the Hwange National Park have counted 18 calves and 21 adolescent 
elephants among the dead animals, the state Parks and Wildlife Authority 
said in statement. Elephant carcasses were found mainly in large areas of 
bush surrounding three tourism and conservation camps in Zimbabwe's biggest 
nature preserve.

Since September, Hwange National Park has seen temperatures soar to above 
104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 C), far higher than annual averages.

"Our information is that animals are dying of thirst right across the park," 
said Johnny Rodrigues, head of the independent Zimbabwe Conservation Task 
Force.

The Hwange National Park has no year-round rivers and little natural surface 
water, making it dependent on wells supplying artificial watering holes 
known as pans. An adult elephant needs nearly 50 gallons (200 liters) of 
water a day. But some watering holes have broken down because of scarce 
funding, the state wildlife authority said.

Rodrigues said voluntary animal welfare groups helped provide pumping 
equipment for some of the 60 watering holes in the preserve. Many now need 
replacement pumps and the underfunded state authority has failed to keep 
them maintained or buy spare parts and gasoline.

He said private conservation groups also installed solar pumps and windmills 
to draw water from the wells.

"There's very little wind at this time of year and the solar pumps can't 
provide the amount of water required by the number of animals reaching them" 
and overwhelming the pans, he said.

An estimated 30,000 elephants live in the massive preserve, along with 
giraffes, lions and most other game animals.

Independent conservationists say the death toll of elephants, buffalo, zebra 
and antelope species could be larger in many inaccessible areas of the park. 
The reserve is 9,000 square miles (14,000 square kilometer) and adjacent to 
the western border with neighboring Botswana.

The state authority's statement said officials estimated that the death of 
the 77 elephants represents a loss of $1.5 million in "compensation value," 
the term used for animals lost to poaching or unforeseen deaths.