Climate crisis kills more than 100 elephants in Zimbabwe’s largest national park

Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe is home to about 45,000 elephants and a variety of wild animals, but at least 100 elephants have suffered devastating losses due to the severe effects of climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon. The carcasses of these creatures are a brutal reminder of the dire conditions facing wildlife in the region.

Source: Africa News/YouTube

Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said climate change and El Niño had exacerbated an already dire situation. The El Niño weather pattern is a natural phenomenon of warming in parts of the Pacific Ocean that disrupts weather patterns around the world. This year’s El Niño is expected to bring below-average rainfall to southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, leading to higher temperatures and water shortages.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare has declared the situation a crisis not only for the region’s elephants, but also for other vulnerable animals in the area. Climate change and El Niño are particularly severe for young, old and sick elephants as they travel great distances in search of water.

Faced with tragic scenes of struggling elephants, park rangers were forced to remove tusks from dead elephants to prevent poaching and protect these magnificent creatures.

The crisis echoes similar incidents in 2019, when more than 200 elephants died in Hwange due to severe drought. Climate experts and conservationists fear a repeat of this scenario, exacerbated by the increasing severity and frequency of El Niño events, which may be linked to climate change.

Climate change has disrupted Zimbabwe’s once reliable rainy season, with delayed rains and prolonged droughts becoming more common. Environmentalists such as Trevor Lane of the Bhejane Trust are taking proactive steps to tackle the crisis. Lane’s organization pumps 1.5 million liters of water into waterholes in Hwange every day, helping to power more than 100 solar-powered wells that provide water for the park’s animals.

In addition to the direct ecological impact, the loss of elephants also poses a threat to the fight against climate change. Elephants play a vital role by spreading vegetation over great distances through their dung, helping to reforestation and allowing forests to flourish. Environmentalists emphasize that protecting elephants is not only an important aspect of wildlife conservation, but also a key strategy in combating climate change.

As Zimbabwe faces ongoing challenges from climate change and El Niño, there is an urgent need for the international community to work to address the root causes of these crises and protect the valuable biodiversity of Hwange National Park.

Earthlings For Life T-shirt by Tiny Rescue: Climate Collection

related information:

Simple ways to help the planet:

• Eat less meat: download food monsteris the largest plant-based recipe app on the App Store to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and stay healthy.You can also purchase a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegetarian recipes.
• Reduce your fast fashion footprint: Take initiatives to combat the pollution of fast fashion and support sustainable and circular brands, e.g. little rescue Raise awareness of important issues through zero-waste recycled clothing that can be recycled and remade again.
• Support independent media: Receiving public funding gives us a greater chance of continuing to provide high quality content.please consider Support us By donating!
• Sign the petition: Your voice matters!Sign the latest list to help turn petitions into victories Petition must be signed Helping people, animals and the planet.
• Stay informed: Subscribe to stay up-to-date with the latest news and important stories covering animals, environment, sustainable living, food, health and human interest topics Our newsletter!
• Do what you can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse things, say no to single use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water for laundry, ditch fossil fuels, conserve water, shop smart and donate if you can , grow food, volunteer, save energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!