Some 200 elephants have died in Zimbabwe because of the extreme drought enveloping large swaths of the African continent. While elephants are the most easily spotted victims by wildlife patrol, the drought is having a cascade effect on several other species including buffalo, impala and giraffe, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo told the Associated Press on Tuesday.
The problem is compounded by the fact that elephants and other animals are straying from their usual territory in search of food. "Almost every animal is being affected," Farawo said. "Of course, elephants are easily noticed during patrols or game drives, but some bird species are seriously affected because they can only breed in certain tree heights and those trees are being knocked down by elephants."
More than 50 million people across 18 African nations face a crisis situation because of the severe drought and other extreme weather, according to a report last week by global aid organization Oxfam. Parts of Zimbabwe have had their lowest rainfall amounts since 1981. A study published earlier this year indicated that the situation is only expected to get worse as climate change continues to heat the planet and influence weather patterns and events, including droughts and floods. The elephants in Zimbabwe are dying due to both lack of water and lack of vegetation. Straying from their habitats also brings them in contact with more people. The Zimbabwe national parks agency said 33 people have died from conflicts with animals this year, the AP reported.
https://weather.com/science/nature/news/2019-11-12-elephants-die-in-african-drought
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