HARARE: In the wake of a devastating El Niño climate event, Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, located hundreds of kilometers north of the capital, Harare, is experiencing a significant wildlife crisis. The park has recently reported the death of 15 elephants due to hunger and thirst, a figure that is part of a larger toll of approximately 100 elephant deaths.
According to Philippines News Agency, this isn't the first time El Niño-induced droughts have had a deadly impact on Zimbabwe's wildlife. In 2019, over 200 elephants in the country succumbed to a severe drought. Currently, Hwange National Park, which houses a population of about 45,000 elephants, is facing an acute crisis as these animals require around 200 liters of water daily.
Zimbabwe's Meteorological Services have noted that the rainy season, typically spanning from November to March, has seen little rainfall this year due to El Niño. The drought conditions are predicted to persist into 2024. This severe weather pattern, characterized by extreme temperatures and erratic rainfall, has become a hallmark of the climate crisis affecting the Southern African nation, disrupting natural water sources and impacting wildlife significantly.
Compounding the issue is the heightened threat of poaching. As animals become emaciated due to the drought, poachers are exploiting their vulnerability. Msimanga Tshuma, a resident of Hwange, expressed concerns to Anadolu Agency about the increasing poaching activities targeting weakened animals, particularly elephants, for ivory.
The drought has also forced animals to migrate across national borders in search of food and water, only to find scarce resources in neighboring regions. The situation is not isolated to Zimbabwe; neighboring Botswana and other parts of Southern Africa are experiencing similar hardships. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a collaboration between the US Agency for International Development and Department of State, reports that the region is facing one of its worst droughts in years, affecting over 20 million people and wildlife due to significant livestock and crop losses.
Leonard Zwide, a conservationist based in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, criticized the lack of adequate planning and preparation for such droughts by authorities. He pointed out that waterholes, often supplied by solar-powered boreholes, are failing due to dropping water tables, and no timely precautionary measures have been taken.
The crisis in Hwange National Park is exacerbated by the lack of major rivers, with the park relying on solar-powered pumps at 104 boreholes or wells. However, these are currently unable to draw sufficient water to meet the needs of the wildlife. Daphine Madhlamoto, chief ecologist of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) at Hwange, acknowledged the increasing number of animal deaths, particularly among elephants, who are highly dependent on water.
The IFAW has indicated that relief in the form of summer rains in Zimbabwe is still weeks away amidst the ongoing El Niño conditions.