Zimbabwe plans mass wildlife migration

HARARE: Zimbabwe is planning an enforced mass migration of wildlife away from a park in the country’s south, where thousands of animals are at risk of death due to drought-induced starvation.

At least 200 elephants have already died at two other parks due to lack of food and water, along with scores of buffalo and antelope, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) said yesterday.

Zimparks spokesman Tinashe Farawo said Zimparks and private partners planned to move 600 elephants, as well as giraffe, lions, buffalo, antelope and spotted wild dogs, from Save Valley Conservancy in southern Zimbabwe to three national parks.

“This is the biggest translocation of animals in the history of wildlife movement here because we are talking of distances of more than 1,000km,” said Farawo.