Zim elephants shot for food
2007-12-18 08:46
Special Report
Four Chinese men face deportation from Zimbabwe after they were arrested for killing more than 40 tortoises for meat, a report says.
A dusty road leads to the village of Wedza, where veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation war eke out a meagre living on their farm cooperative, which after a promising start now brings only despair.
Harare - There is such an acute food shortage in Zimbabwe that people are resorting to shooting elephants to stave off the hunger.
Johnny Rodrigues, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said game poaching had increased in the past three months.
A recent report noted that 900 elephant carcasses had been seen from the air over Chisarira Park in the northwestern region of Zimbabwe.
The official who compiled the report said there were more carcasses than live animals in the park.
A tourist has reported seeing three elephant carcasses in Hwange National Park.
The carcasses had been stripped to the bone.
Elephant stoned
The official report noted: "The continuing food shortages in Zimbabwe are forcing residents to act like barbarians."
One Kariba elephant, which was being stoned by about 30 people, fled in panic and fell into a ditch, where the stoning continued.
While some people ran to help the elephant, the original attackers just stood there waiting for the animal to die so they could get at the meat.
Zimbabwe's severe food shortages have been felt worst in the rural areas.
Meat is a luxury in most households.
- Media24 Africa