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Southern African nations fear losing more elephants to drought

Southern African countries home to the biggest elephant population worldwide fear an increase in animal deaths in the coming months as food and water sources dwindle following a serious drought.

The region experienced an extended hot, dry spell during its 2023/24 rainy season, credited to El Nino, a weather phenomenon marked by the warming of the waters in the eastern Pacific, leading to hotter weather throughout the world. El Nino has worsened the impact of environment change, researchers state.

The drought has actually affected water and food products for people, animals and wildlife.

Zimbabwe lost 160 elephants in its premier Hwange National Park in the year to January 2024, according to the nation's. wildlife authority.

Botswana lost 300 elephants to drought last year, according. to its environment ministry.

Others like Zambia have also validated deaths of elephants. in its national forests, with Minister of Environment Rodney. Sikumba explaining the dry spell as ravaging.

The five countries making up the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA). conservation area - Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola and. Namibia, home to a combined 227,000 elephants - are satisfying in. Livingstone, Zambia, to go over sustainable wildlife management.

The drought has actually had a negative effect and you would notice. that the majority of the watering holes in parks around KAZA are drying. up, Sikumba told on the sidelines of the conference.

In the absence of water and food, you will see carcasses. dotted around the parks.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) said it. had gotten $3 million from the nation's disaster fund to. boost water system in national parks, however its director general. Fulton Mangwanya stated this was insufficient to save wildlife.

We have over 150 solar energy boreholes. Nevertheless, it will. not stop the elephants from passing away when the dry spell strikes hard. We. are all set for the drought, however some scenarios can not be. avoided, Mangwanya stated.

Delegates said climate modification has intensified human-wildlife. conflict as elephants trespass on human environment looking for. food and water. Last year Zimbabwe lost 50 individuals to elephant. attacks.

Philip Kuvawoga, the International Fund for Animal Well-being's. ( IFAW) director for landscape preservation, stated wildlife dealt with. a bigger danger of food scarcity due to the dry spell and heightened. fire risk.

Fire management is necessary so we retain and sustain food. readily available for wildlife, he said.

(source: Reuters)