Dozens of elephants died of thirst in the popular Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. Conservationists fear more will be lost as drought caused by climate change and global weather patterns. El Niño dries up water sources.

The seasonal El Niño phenomenon, which causes warmer, drier weather throughout the year, is being exacerbated by climate change, scientists say, raising concerns in the debate over climate action seen in Dubai KC28.

Hwange No major river flows through it. According to a Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) spokesman, the animals rely on solar-powered boreholes.

“We depend on artificial water because there is less surface water. Because elephants depend on water, we are recording more deaths,” Daphine Madhlamotho, senior ecologist at Zimparks in Hwange National Park, told Reuters.

The elephant population in Hwange is There are 45,000 individuals, and an adult elephant requires 200 liters of water per day. However, due to dwindling water sources, solar-powered pumps at 104 wells were unable to produce enough water.

The Reuters news agency saw dozens Elephant carcasses near a watering hole and park officials said other elephants died in the bush, easy prey for lions and vultures.

“The park has witnessed the effects of climate change. We have had less rain,” Madhlamotho said.

The rainy season in Zimbabwe lasts from November to March, but this year there was almost no rain. The drought is expected to last until 2024. According to the Zimbabwe Meteorological Service.

Zimparks said the animals were forced to travel long distances in search of water and food, and that several herds of elephants had moved into neighboring Botswana. Conservation groups are trying supply additional water by digging troughs and pumping more water water through solar wells to help cope with the crisis.

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Zimbabwe’s population is almost 100,000 elephantsbut Zimparks says it’s at just over half capacity, meaning the national parks are full.

Reuters