The Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe is finally seeing storm clouds on the horizon, but the relief has come too late for more than 110 elephants that have perished in a prolonged drought. The park rangers, like Simba Marozva, are now left with the grim task of removing the tusks from the decaying bodies before poachers can get to them.
As the dark clouds gather, bringing hope of life-saving rain, the rangers may not be able to locate all the casualties of the drought during their daily searches. The massive park, spanning over 14,600 square kilometers, is home to more than 45,000 savanna elephants, a population so large that it is considered a threat to the environment.
The impact of the drought is evident in the desolate landscape, where the absence of rain for more than six weeks and scorching temperatures have led to the deaths of many elephants. Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, has noted that the most vulnerable, such as the old, young, and sick, have been hit the hardest. Some elephants have succumbed in dried-up waterholes, while others have sought their final refuge under the shade of trees.
The heartbreaking sight of blackened corpses scattered throughout the park highlights the severity of the situation. The stench of death lingers in the air, drawing increasing attention to the devastating impact of the drought on the elephant population. Despite the grim circumstances, the intact tusks on the deceased elephants serve as a grim reminder of the natural losses suffered.