News24
12 Nov 2019, 02:41 GMT+10
Zimbabwe's wildlife agency said on Monday it would move hundreds of elephants and other animals in a dramatic bid to save them from a lethal drought.
At least 120 elephants have already died over the past two months as the country grapples with one of the worst droughts in its history.
"We are moving 600 elephants, two prides of lion comprising between five and 10 members, a pack of wild dogs, 50 buffalo, 40 giraffes and 2 000 impalas," parks and wildlife authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo told AFP.
The animals will be moved from Save Conservancy, a major park in southeastern Zimbabwe, to three other game reserves.
"This will be the biggest translocation in our history," said Farawo.
Permits for the operation have already been secured, Farawo said.
The transfer will start "during the rain season, when pastures and foliage start flourishing," he added. The rain season usually kicks off from around the middle of November.
"We want to avoid a situation where we trans-locate animals, only for them to starve to death because there is no food in their new habitat," he explained.
'Human-and-animal conflict'
The relocation was announced after the death of dozens of elephants in Hwange, Zimbabwe's biggest game reserve, located in the northwest of the country.
Hungry elephants have been breaking out of wildlife areas and raiding human settlements in search for food, posing a threat to communities.
Farawo said 200 people have died in "human-and-animal conflict" over the past five years.
Several southern African countries are in the grip of one of the worst droughts in decades, caused by months of above-average temperatures and erratic rainfall.
This year's drought has wilted grasslands and dried up water holes, making it increasingly difficult for animals to survive.
Botswana last month announced that more than 100 elephants had died in two months in its famed Chobe National Park.
The drought has left more than five million rural Zimbabweans - nearly a third of the population - at risk of food shortages before the next harvest in 2020, the UN has warned.
Food shortages for people have been amplified by the combined effects of drought and the country's enduring economic crisis.
Get a daily dose of Zimbabwe Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Zimbabwe Star.
More InformationANKARA, Turkey: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this week that he has appointed a group of legal experts to begin drafting...
BEIJING, China: Six people are still missing and rescue teams continued their search on May 28 after a powerful explosion at a chemical...
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: Starting June 1, Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes has issued a new set of rules for the city's beaches that...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant shift to federal vaccine guidance, the U.S. government will no longer recommend routine COVID-19...
KATHMANDU, Nepal: Using xenon gas treatment and new technology is making climbing Mount Everest faster and better for the environment...
CAIRO, Egypt: Egypt has revealed three newly discovered tombs in the Dra Abu al-Naga necropolis in Luxor. These tombs, found by Egyptian...
(250531) -- LUSAKA, May 31, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Two students wait for the final of the 18th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition...
Addis Ababa [Ethiopia], May 31 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) MP Supriya Sule, who is leading the...
CHANGSHA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- At the headquarters of a fireworks company in Liuyang City, central China's Hunan Province, Hu Yichuang...
Addis Ababa [Ethiopia], May 31 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) MP Supriya Sule, who is leading the...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 31 (ANI): After the completion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash between the Gujarat...
Chinese language learners in Zimbabwe on Friday showcased their language skills during the 24th Chinese Bridge competition organized...