October 7, 1995
Web posted at: 7:50 a.m. EDT
From Correspondent Mimi Mees
HWANGE NATIONAL PARK, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- One of the world's leading wildlife parks is in crisis. Thousands of elephants, giraffes, zebras and other animals are in danger because there is not enough water to drink at the Hwange National Park.
The call of a bull elephant is unmistakable in the African plains. Usually, it means that a male is trying to protect his herd from a predator or rival. But in this case, he is trying to protect something much more precious, the watering hole.
Throughout the park, animals are desperately searching for water in the wake of the driest season in about 70 years. Conservationists fear for their survival.
The rainy season has been anything but rainy, and the coming months are traditionally even drier. Colin Gillies of the Wildlife Society of Zimbabwe says if the skies don't open up soon, things could take a sharp turn for the worse. "We have about six weeks to go now, and if we do not get rain in this park, we could start losing animals. There is no question about it."
Pumps run all day long, but they cannot keep up with the demand for water. The elephants are in the worst trouble. They need more water than any other species in the park, and their search for it has become a desperate struggle.
Conservationists also fear increased poaching, because the animals are easier to find as they bunch up around the few remaining water holes.
If rains do not come in the next month or so, tens of thousands of animals could fall to thirst and poachers' bullets.
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