Four elephants killed in fresh Zim cyanide poisoning attack

FOUR elephants have died from fresh cyanide poisoning at Zambezi National Park raising fears that more game could be killed by poachers using the deadly chemical. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers on patrol discovered the dead jumbos in the park just outside Victoria Falls along the Zambezi River early this week, an official confirmed. Zimparks public relations manager Caroline Washaya-Moyo said the death of the elephants comes as a shock, a year following a similar poisoning incident that left more than 100 jumbos dead at the Hwange National Park. She said the authority learnt that a natural salt lick in the park was laced with cyanide leading to the poisoning of the elephants. “Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority confirms that four elephants died from suspected cyanide poisoning in Zambezi National Park. Samples were collected and have been sent to Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Harare office for further investigation.” Washaya-Moyo said preliminary results of investigations by Zimparks working with the police, EMA and Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust veterinary Dr Chris Fogging have confirmed that the elephants died as a result of cyanide poisoning. “Other species that died as a result include one cape turtle dove, one sand grouse and a vulture,” she said. Washaya-Moyo said the authority has since instituted ground and air patrols around the area as investigations into the poisoning continue. Source: Chronicle