Government has transferred over 500 elephants from Hwange National Park to less populated areas in Masvingo and Manicaland provinces in the wake of the on-going water crisis.
The translocation comes at a time when Hwange National Park is struggling to accommodate its 45 000 elephant population. It has a carrying capacity of about 15 000 elephants. The 500 elephants being transferred from Hwange will be relocated to Chipinge, Chimanimani and Malilangwe, among other habitats with less elephants.
Water, Environment and Climate Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri spoke to The Financial Gazette and said,
We are in the process of translocation so that the animals don’t concentrate in one area. We have quarantined baby elephants after which we will translocate the elephants to habitats with a few elephants.
Zimbabwe has the second largest elephant population in Africa.
More: Financial Gazette