Heatwave kills more than 77 elephants

HARARE(AP):

More than 77 elephants have died in a three-month heatwave that has dried up watering holes in western Zimbabwe, wildlife authorities reported yesterday.

Rangers in the Hwange National Park have counted 18 calves and 21 adolescent elephants among the dead animals, the state Parks and Wildlife Authority said in a statement. Elephant carcasses were found mainly in large areas of bush surrounding three tourism and conservation camps in Zimbabwe's biggest nature preserve.

Since September, Hwange National Park has seen temperatures soar to above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40C), far higher than annual averages.

Dying of thirst

"Our information is that animals are dying of thirst right across the park,"said Johnny Rodrigues, head of the independent Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.

The Hwange National Park has no year-round rivers and little natural surface water, making it dependent on wells supplying artificial watering holes known as pans. An adult elephant needs nearly 50 gallons (200 litres) of water a day. But some watering holes have broken down because of scarce funding, the state wildlife authority said.