At the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, elephants are continuing to be killed. In the month of October alone, at least 62 elephants have been brutally killed at the park, possibly in an effort to steal their valuable ivory tusks.
However, there is reason to suspect that the act might have been an inside job, rather than poachers who were hunting for tusks.
Officials believe that someone used cyanide to kill the elephants. It is currently unknown who is responsible for the killings. The most recent attack led to the deaths of 22 elephants, many of which were infants.
However, some people are starting to believe that it might not have been poachers who killed the elephants. The act may have been committed by disgruntled park rangers who are fed up with their low rates of pay. Additionally, the park’s management recently failed to supply the park with new watering hole pumps.
According to one source, the park has “serious management problems”.
Meanwhile, a well-known hunter in the region said that park rangers played a part in the slaying of the elephants.
In a separate attack less than two weeks ago, 26 elephants were killed after being poisoned just outside the boundaries of the park. And last month, at least 14 elephants were killed by Cyanide.
Last year, more than 300 elephants died as a result of cyanide poisonings.
Park spokesperson Caroline Washaya-Moyo said, “We recovered 22 elephant carcasses in the Sinamatela area and so far we have also recovered 35 tusks. Initial investigations indicate that there was cyanide poisoning. We continue to lobby for deterrent penalties for people found with poisonous substances such as cyanide.”
She continued, “We can’t continue to lose wildlife at such a rate. The rate at which we are losing animals to cyanide is alarming. Many other species are also dying from the cyanide used by poachers to target elephants. We are appealing to people in communities close to national parks to cooperate with authorities.”
The Hwange National Park is also the same place where Cecil the Lion was shot dead by American dentist Walter Palmer in July.
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