October  22，2019

Anna Murray 

Across Zimbabwe, the impact of a severe El Nino-induced drought continues to drastically affect human beings and wildlife as well. The most recent Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee report indicates an estimated 2.2 million people are in need of immediate food aid, with that figure expected to climb to over 4 million from the record of 2017.

As Zimbabwe drought lingers on, at least 55 elephants have reportedly starved to death in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, called Wankie Game Reserve formerly with the largest natural reserve in Zimbabwe. The elephants died from starvation over the past 2 months amid this severe drought.  

In Hwange National Park drought is not the only problem; overcrowded elephants are also troublesome. The park usually handles 15,000 elephants but currently it has more than 50,000. The Park’s wildlife agency did not receive government funding. Thus, it lacked the money to drill boreholes for supply of water. They are desperately waiting for the rains.

Photo:Webshot.