Drought decimates wildlife in game reserve

Vultures croak and swoop noisily on the decaying carcass of an elephant on the crusty shores of a dried-up water pan in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest game reserve.

The elephant is one of the latest victims of a drought currently ravaging southern Zimbabwe that has destroyed wildlife valued at more than US $50 billion in the last five months. Authorities say the animal sanctuary is facing serious water shortages, which have claimed the lives of 43 elephants, 53 buffaloes, three zebras and a giraffe.

Several water holes have dried up and grazing has become scarce. National parks authorities cannot pump water into man-made water points because they either have no fuel or the motors have broken down. Of an estimated 66 drinking points, only seven, whose levels are also dropping fast, still have water.

National Parks and Wildlife Management (NPWM) spokesman Edward Mbewe told IRIN that more animals could die if no remedial measures were taken, adding that the depletion of pastures was mainly due to the increase in the number of elephants, which had surpassed the national park's holding capacity.

"Basically, thirst is the major cause of their [the animals'] death and, as the responsible authorities, we are doing the best we can to address the situation. Although most dams have dried up, we try by all possible means to ensure that water is available in some pans through our pumping system," he said.

"Again I must stress that the park is strained by the number of jumbos, which has more than doubled in the last few years. Instead of each animal occupying one hectare of land you will find that a tiny space accommodates ten animals - it is just unsustainable, hence the deterioration of pastures," explained Mbewe.

Kudus and Impalas [antelope] are among the other species that have succumbed to the drought in Hwange, one of Zimbabwe's main tourist attractions.

Hwange, ranked in the same category as the Kruger National Park in South Africa, has breathtaking scenery and many wildlife species. It can house 14,000 elephants but currently has a population of 75,000, according to official statistics.

Mbewe added that there had been an outbreak of blackleg, an acute infectious disease characterised by gas-filled swellings on the legs caused by a spore-producing bacteria in the soil, which brings sudden death in most species. Animals are more susceptible to blackleg in late summer when grazing pastures are scarce and they are forced to start scrounging for food at ground level or in creek bottoms.

Animal husbandry specialists say the disease, which is normally dormant, attacks wildlife when there is inadequate drinking water and the ground is too dry.

The fact that Zimbabwe is also in the throes of serious gasoline shortages, which have crippled most of the country's economy, has exacerbated the situation. Despite pledges of support, the ministry of environment and tourism has not taken adequate steps to ensure steady supplies of fuel. More than a dozen water pumps have been idle as spare parts are not available.

NGOs such as the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF) have stepped in to provide fuel, spare parts and other necessary auxiliary support. The organisation recently bought two new water pumps for the park with donations from the Save Foundation of Australia.

ZCTF chairperson Johnny Rodrignes said, "The water situation is really bad - animals have to travel long distances to drink, while some get stuck in the mud and die there."

He was dismissive of reports of animal overcrowding, saying research by his organisation had shown that there were only about 27,000 elephants at Hwange and not the officially estimated 75,000.

"Grazing pastures are not much of a problem - there is grass in some places, but because there is no water in those areas the animals do not go there ... The national park has failed to maintain boreholes at the park. When they see the elephants crowding on these few watering points, they allege that they [the elephants] are overpopulated," commented Rodrignes. "It is simply not true, and what I suspect here is that the government just wants to cull these elephants to feed the people who are battling with hunger."