Poachers poison 91 elephants for tusks

HWANGE — Wildlife officials in western Zimbabwe say at least 91 elephants were poisoned with cyanide by poachers who hack off the tusks for the lucrative illegal ivory market.

Massive bones, some already bleached by the blistering sun in the Hwange National Park, litter the landscape around one remote watering hole where 18 carcasses were found. Officials say cyanide used in gold mining was spread by poachers over flat “salt pans,” also known as natural, mineral-rich salt licks. They say lions, hyenas and vultures have died from feeding on contaminated carcasses or drinking nearby. Most of the poisoned elephants died in the past month.

Nine suspected poachers have been arrested this month after the biggest, most brutal poaching spree on record.

Jellyfish shut reactor: OKG, the Swedish operators of one of the world’s largest nuclear reactors, say they are preparing to restart the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant after it had to be shut down Sunday after tons of jellyfish clogged up pipes bringing cooling water to the plant.

Postwar census: Bosnia began holding its first postwar census Tuesday, a two-week exercise expected to reveal the effects of ethnic expulsions during the 1990s conflict and also impact the country’s power- sharing system. Residents will be asked to answer about 70 questions. Preliminary results are expected in January.

Wire services