Zimbabwe’s largest national park has seen the death of at least 100 elephants in recent weeks due to drought, a grim indication of the impact of climate change and the El Niño phenomenon.
Wildlife officials and conservation groups fear more deaths as parts of southern Africa, including Hwange National Park, anticipate decreased rainfall and warmer temperatures. The International Fund for Animal Welfare has labeled this a crisis for elephants and other wildlife.
Tinashe Farawo, spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, stated, “El Niño conditions are exacerbating an already dire situation.”
El Niño is a natural weather event that warms parts of the Pacific Ocean and affects global weather patterns. This year’s El Niño has also brought about deadly flooding. Forecasters expect below-average rainfall across southern Africa into East Africa.
Zimbabwe has already experienced a delayed start to the rainy season, with below-average rainfall predicted for the summer. Experts believe climate change has strengthened the El Niño phenomenon, resulting in more severe consequences.
Authorities are worried about a repeat of 2019 when over 200 elephants died in Hwange due to severe drought.
Philippe Kwawoga, program director at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, alerted authorities to the situation in Hwange in a recent report.
According to research, longer and more severe dry periods have become more frequent in Zimbabwe in recent years. Trevor Lane of the B-Jane Trust, a conservation organization, stated, “El Niño could soon bring back sunshine as rainfall in our region has significantly reduced.”
The B-Jane Trust has been working to help by pumping 1.5 million liters of water per day to the Hwange waterhole from more than 50 wells it manages in partnership with the Parks Department.
Conservationists emphasize that saving elephants is not only about the animals themselves. They play a crucial role in forest regeneration and are key allies in the fight against climate change through their impact on ecosystems.
“They play a much bigger role in forest regeneration than humans,” Lane says, “That’s one of the reasons we fight to keep elephants alive.”
Source: www.nbcnews.com
