…drought exacerbates human wildlife conflict
Tulani Ngwenya
HWANGE, Zimbabwe – The devastating impact of the ongoing severe drought in Zimbabwe has claimed the lives of at least 112 elephants in Hwange, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe’s largest natural reserve, between September and November 2023.
Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, confirmed the alarming numbers, attributing them to hunger and thirst caused by the prevailing intense El-Nino induced drought.
Drought most brutal between September and November
Farawo explained that the challenging water supply situation, exacerbated by the drought, affected the Hwange game reserve, particularly from September to November 2023, when water sources were drying up due to the peak of the heatwave.
The reserve heavily relies on groundwater sourced from over 100 solar-powered boreholes, as the region, classified as Region 5, experiences little to no rainfall during the period.
“With no natural rivers in Hwange, the reliance on boreholes becomes critical. We are also trying to go green,” Farawo said.
Zimbabwe’s large elephant population, the second largest in the world unmanageable during drought
Zimbabwe, boasting the second-largest elephant herd globally with over 84 000, faces the difficulty of sustainably managing only about 56 000 of them. The drought’s impact has been most severe on the vulnerable populations, including the old, young, and sick animals.
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Furthermore, the loss of habitat poses an additional threat to elephants and other wildlife, leading to increased human-wildlife conflict. Villagers and communal farmers continue to suffer loss of lives, livestock, and crops as wild animals venture into communities in search for food.
Concerning statistics of human deaths and injuries due human wildlife conflicts during drought
Farawo shared concerning statistics, revealing that in 2021, 71 deaths and 50 injuries occurred due to human-wildlife conflict, a rise from 60 deaths and 40 injuries in 2020. In 2022, 68 people died, and the toll continued in the first quarter of 2023 with 15 deaths and 43 injuries.
To address this ongoing crisis, ZimParks has been striving to compensate victims of wildlife attacks. In June, the government approved the establishment of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund to provide compensation. The global ban on ivory trade imposed by the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species has been linked to a ban on culling, which has resulted in an overpopulation of some species, most notably elephants.
Farawo emphasised the importance of raising awareness in communities and employing various means, including capturing and relocating animals, to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. The situation highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions to preserve both wildlife and human livelihoods in the face of increasing environmental challenges.
