Opinion / Columnist
Drought to wipe out elephant population - Minister
08 Feb 2016 at 07:40hrs | Views
Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has raised fears that Zimbabwe's elephant population and several animals could be wiped out due to drought.
Elephant population is well over 80 000 of which 45 000 are at Hwange whose ecosystem can only take care of 25 000 elephants.
"We are very worried with the challenge of drought that we may lose a number of elephants unless we can do something," she said.
She was speaking at the launch of the Elephant Dress, an initiative aimed at drawing attention to the plight of the country's elephants and the environment.
Reports are that thousands of cattle have died in Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Midlands due to inadequate pastures and acute water shortages make sad reading.
Most water sources in the three provinces have dried up due to the prevailing drought with humans and livestock now scrounging for the few remaining water sources.
According to reports, 5 000 cattle have died in Masvingo, 1 300 in Midlands and 450 in Matabeleland South amid indications that more than one million cattle would face starvation should the rains remain scarce.
Villagers were now disposing of their livestock cheaply to avoid losses with cattle now being sold at between $20 and $10 against the normal average price of around $400.
Elephant population is well over 80 000 of which 45 000 are at Hwange whose ecosystem can only take care of 25 000 elephants.
"We are very worried with the challenge of drought that we may lose a number of elephants unless we can do something," she said.
She was speaking at the launch of the Elephant Dress, an initiative aimed at drawing attention to the plight of the country's elephants and the environment.
Most water sources in the three provinces have dried up due to the prevailing drought with humans and livestock now scrounging for the few remaining water sources.
According to reports, 5 000 cattle have died in Masvingo, 1 300 in Midlands and 450 in Matabeleland South amid indications that more than one million cattle would face starvation should the rains remain scarce.
Villagers were now disposing of their livestock cheaply to avoid losses with cattle now being sold at between $20 and $10 against the normal average price of around $400.
Source - Byo24News
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