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The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, which is facing acute financial challenges is seeking $100 000 to avert a potential disaster in the park.
Hwange National Park consists of the Main, Sinamatela and Robins camps.
Parks public relations manager Ms Carol Washaya- Moyo said in a statement on Tuesday the authority was failing to supply adequate water to animals in the park especially elephants, due to financial challenges.
She said the death of the elephants was almost a repeat of last year’s near disaster, which saw 80 jumbos succumbing to thirst.
“We are facing serious financial challenges, which have seen a number of our operations being heavily compromised. Just recently wildlife has been dying in Hwange National Park, an incident which could have been avoided but shortage of resources has seen almost a repeat of last year’s near disaster when elephants died due to lack of water,” she said.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said water demand in the national park appeared to be outstripping supply during the hot season.
“The hot season has resulted in an increase in temperatures which has accelerated the rate of evaporation of water from the holding pans. Pressure on the water holes is also increasing owing to an increase in wildlife frequenting the watering points. This has obviously created a situation whereby pumped water is not adequate for game during the dry season,” said Ms Washaya-Moyo.
She added that this year, Robins and Sinamatela camps have already witnessed an influx of wildlife species probably from neighbouring Botswana.
“Already 17 elephant deaths have been recorded, nine carcasses at Bumbusi, Mandavu, Masuna and Sinamatela Camp. Main Camp has recorded six elephant carcasses while Robins has two. The same period last year, Hwange National Park recorded a total of 35 deaths,” she said.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said if disaster is to be averted in the park the authority urgently needs resources.
“As a way forward, we are meeting with 23 stakeholders on Thursday at the Main Camp to solicit for help. The stakeholders that have been engaged are Wildlife Environment Zimbabwe, which has already offered a dam scooper and a tractor. They have so far done three pans and these are Libingi, Makwa and Kennedy 1 and work is still in progress at other sites.
“Makomo Resources have pledged to assist in scooping Masuna pan and other pans in Sinamatela,” she said.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said other organisations that have also shown interest include Mathupula Hunters and Makololo Wilderness.
“The authority needs assistance towards the resuscitation of borehole engines. Some of these engines in Hwange, especially at Robins, need to be repaired constantly.
“Main camp has a total of 39 boreholes, 32 diesel, two solar, four wind and one submersible while Sinamatela has eight boreholes, five diesel, two solar, four wind, and Robins Camp has two boreholes and both use diesel,” she said.
The Hwange National Park has an estimated population of 45 000 elephants against a carrying capacity of 30 000.
Online Reporter