Forest rangers discover 26 elephant carcasses in Zimbabwe

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http://www.dw.com/en/forest-rangers-discover-26-elephant-carcasses-in-zimbabwe/a-18783855

Park rangers in Zimbabwe have discovered the bodies of 26 elephants who died of cyanide poisoning. The discovery comes a week after poachers killed 14 elephants using the same method.

Forest rangers discover 26 elephant carcasses in Zimbabwe
14.10.2015

Officials discovered the carcasses on Tuesday in Hwange National Park, in western Zimbabwe. According to the park's spokeswoman, Caroline Washaya Moyo, rangers found 14 tusks belonging to the animals. Others were missing. One widlife conservationist suggested that the poachers might have been disturbed by rangers on patrol before they could take them all.

Forensic tests revealed the animals had died of cyanide poisoning, Washaya-Moyo said, adding that rangers discovered one kilogram of the deadly chemical which is widely used in Zimbabwe's mining industry.

No arrests had been made so far, police spokeswoman Charity Charamba told reporters.

Cyanide poisoning 'a huge problem'

"Cyanide poisoning is becoming a huge problem here and we are struggling to contain it," Trevor Lane, founder of Bhejani Trust and a wildlife conservationist said. Tuesday's discovery came a week after 14 elephants had been killed by lacing their food with cyanide.