Climate crisis: Drought causes mass elephant deaths in Zimbabwe game reserve
- January 22, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Climate crisis: Drought causes mass elephant deaths in Zimbabwe game reserve
Subject: Environment
Section: Protected Areas
Context:
- In the last two months of 2023, over 160 elephants and numerous other wildlife species perished in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park due to a severe drought caused by climate change, as reported by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks).
- This drought affected the southern African region and had a significant impact on the park, which spans 14,600 square kilometres and is home to around 45,000 elephants.
- The drought was influenced by the El Niño weather pattern linked to climate change.
- This prolonged dry spell also caused elephants to migrate from Hwange to neighbouring Botswana in search of water and food.
About Hwange National Park (formerly Wankie Game Reserve):
- Located in Zimbabwe, is part of the Kavango Zambezi Trans frontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA), which includes Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- Hwange National Park is also known for its diverse wildlife, including over 100 mammal and 400 bird species.
- It is the largest natural reserve in Zimbabwe. It lies near to the Victoria falls.
- Unlike other parts of KAZA-TFCA, Hwange National Park lacks perennial rivers or other reliable natural water sources, making it heavily reliant on 110 solar-powered boreholes for water during dry seasons.
Severe drought forecast:
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that an El Niño weather phenomenon will cause hot, dry weather with little rainfall in the southern African region during this period.
- This aligns with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s classification of southern Africa as a region at high risk of climate change, with increased heat and reduced rainfall.
- Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department reports a significant rise in both daily minimum and maximum temperatures over the last century, with fewer cold days and more hot days.
Climate change threat to wildlife:
- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to support climate-resilient landscapes and communities.
- In 2019, over 200 elephants in Zimbabwe died due to severe drought.
- IFAW advocates for wildlife conservation as a key solution to climate change at international forums like COP28.
- The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) also stresses the impact of reduced water access on wildlife and human welfare.
- There is the risk of flash floods and harsh droughts in Africa’s industrializing landscapes and the struggle of smaller species to adapt to reduced rainfall and drying water sources. Larger animals like buffaloes and antelopes become weakened and easy prey for predators under severe water shortages.
- Following the devastating drought in 2019,ZimParks and its partners are taking mitigatory measures, including one of southern Africa’s largest wildlife translocation exercises. Over 2,500 animals, including 400 elephants, are being moved from the arid south to more favourable northern conservancies. This translocation, a costly last resort, aims to alleviate the impact of climate change on wildlife in Zimbabwe.
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW):
- Founded in 1969, in New Brunswick, Canada.
- IFAW is one of the largest animal welfare and conservation charities in the world.
- The organization works to rescue individual animals, safeguard populations, preserve habitat, and advocate for greater protection.
- Brian Davies founded IFAW.
- IFAW was instrumental in ending the commercial seal hunt in Canada.
- In 1983Europe banned all whitecoat harp seals products. This ban helped save over 1 million seals.
- IFAW operates in over 40 countries.
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
Source: DTE