HARARE The number of elephants dying in western Zimbabwe from a suspected bacterial infection, possibly from eating poisonous plants, has risen to 22, and more deaths are expected, a spokesman for the countrys parks agency said Wednesday.
Most of the elephants dying in the Pandamasue Forest, located between the vast Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls, were young or weak, said Tinashe Farawo, spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
Animal welfare groups such as the African Wildlife Foundation, have expressed concern at the mysterious deaths of elephants in Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Last year about 200 elephants in Zimbabwe died of starvation as a result of the countrys drought.
More than 50 people have been killed in such conflicts countrywide so far this year, the deadliest in a decade, said the parks spokesman.