Over 100 elephants have died in recent months in Zimbabwe due to a drought caused by El Nino, the yearly weather phenomenon that warms parts of the planet and has prevented much rainfall this season in Hwange National Park. The scarcity of water causes dehydration and starvation in elephants, who need a lot of sustenance and spend most of their day walking, foraging for food.
A spokesperson for the parks agency said that very old, very young, and sick elephants are most affected because they cannot travel long distances to find alternative water sources. The park rangers remove the tusks from elephant carcasses to prevent poachers from coming into possession with ivory, the trade in which is heavily regulated or illegal in many parts of the world.
Who’s Helping Elephants in Hwange
Where’s the good news? The Bhejane Trust is assisting the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in bringing water to parched elephant herds. The trust manages 50 solar-powered boreholes and pumps over a million liters of water into Hwange’s water holes every day, bringing the necessary hydration to elephants unable to travel long distances.
Climate change has contributed to the decimation of elephant populations, which were already severely decreased by illegal and violent poaching for ivory. The destruction of elephant habitats through climate change and deforestation causes increased human-elephant conflict, further harming the elephant species’ chances for survival.
Elephants are key players in fighting climate change. They disperse seeds through their dung as the herds travel up to 30 miles on foot each day, regrowing forests which remove carbon dioxide from the air. Saving elephants for their own sake is important, but saving elephants is also a step toward saving the planet.
How You Can Advocate for Elephants
If you want to advocate for elephants, make a donation to the Bhejane Trust. It is a nonprofit trust registered in Zimbabwe, so US based donations are not tax-deductible. Your donation helps elephants that are in acute need of access to water. Be a voice for them today!
Elephant Advocate 