11 jumbos die in Pandamasue

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) is conducting investigations to establish the cause of death of eleven elephants in Pandamasue forest located between Hwange and Victoria falls.

Zimbabwe which has the world’s second largest population of elephants estimated at around 85 000 is conducting tests to establish the cause of death of eleven elephants with preliminary investigations having ruled out poaching and cyanide poisoning.

Samples taken from the carcasses have been sent to local laboratories for further investigations, with results expected soon.

Zimparks public relations manager Tinashe Farawo confirmed the development.

According to the authority, the positioning of the dead animals’ carcasses point to sudden death. The jumbos which were found close to water holes had their tasks intact.

The death of eleven elephants in Zimbabwe, comes at a time neighbouring Botswana is still to establish the cause of mysterious death of 281 elephants in the Okavango delta.