Elephants poisoned in Zimbabwe

This item appears on page 21 of the November 2013 issue.

More than 100 elephants died in the Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, after drinking at water holes that had been poisoned with cyanide by ivory poachers. Although two water holes had been identified as poisoned, there may be more. The death toll of elephants and many other animals is expected to continue to rise until the water holes can be fenced off or cleansed. 

Eight poachers were captured in the park with a cache of ivory. Three of them were sentenced to 15 years in prison and given heavy fines to be paid to the national parks service.