Poachers kill 81 elephants with cyanide in water

At least 81 elephants have been killed by ivory poachers who poured cyanide into remote water holes in a national park in Zimbabwe.

Wildlife department officials said the industrial cyanide, used in gold mining, also killed smaller animals drinking at the water holes and vultures and other predators feeding on the dead.

Nine alleged poachers were arrested after rangers tracked them to a cache of ivory hidden in the 1,795 square mile Hwange National Park. Tourism minister Walter Mzembi, who toured the park yesterday, said more elephant carcasses were found after a first count of more than 40 in a poisoning incident earlier in the month.

“When we left Hwange National Park on Sunday, the total number of elephants that had died from cyanide poisoning was 81,” said Jerry Gotora, a director of the Zimbabwe parks department. “Several other animals have also died, but we don’t have the total number yet.”

New environment minister Saviour Kasukuwere has promised harsher jail terms for poachers following a rise in the killing of elephants and rhinos.