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Heavy rains save dying animals in Zim Park
Tony Carnie, The Mercury (SA)
December 27, 2005

http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=13470

Life-giving rains have brought temporary relief to the thirst-crazed animals of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe after a fierce drought which left the park littered with shrunken, rotting corpses. Pinetown conservationist John Davison, who has just returned from the park, said many dams and water pans were full to the brim again after nearly 230 mm of rain fell in less than a month. Davison is part of the Save Hwange Trust which was formed earlier this year to avert a water-supply crisis in the cash-strapped wildlife park. Just over a month ago, he said, long lines of weak and thirsty animals were congregating around the few remaining drinking holes because diesel-driven water pumps had broken down or run out of fuel. At one of the watering holes in the south of the park, mature elephant bulls were monopolising the little remaining water to such an extent that safari operators had to drive them away to allow other animals to drink. Davison said smaller species, including sable antelope, had waited for days because the biggest elephants were sucking up water as fast as it could be pumped - leaving nothing for the weaker elephants and smaller species.

He left Pinetown earlier this month as part of a volunteer mission to supply fuel and to transport pump service teams within Hwange. On arrival, though, he had witnessed a "spectacular recovery". "In the northern Robins Camp and Sinamatella region, dams and pans are brimming over with water deep enough for the hippo to submerge. The recovery of the trees and shrubs, as well as the sudden flowering of bulbs and tuber plants and the sprouting of ground cover and creepers is nothing short of nature's miracle." However, the corpses of several elephants were still visible next to derelict bore hole engines and pumps which might have saved them from starvation had they been in working order. Davison warned, however, that while the rains had brought respite from suffering, the park's problems were not over. "The Save Hwange Trust, park management and many other concerned organisations have been given a period of relief in which to plan and put in place remedial measures. The huge backlog of maintenance and repairs to the water supply infrastructure before the next drought arrives is a daunting task which needs resources and support," he said.

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