WILDLIFE authorities have launched an investigation following the discovery of a carcass of a male elephant in Hwange National Park with a tusk missing.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) confirmed the incident, noting that the carcass was estimated to be two days old.
According to ZimParks, the elephant carcass was estimated to be two days old and it was discovered with one missing tusk, while flesh from the leg was removed.
“A distinctive shoe spoor was seen at the scene and the ZimParks Investigations Unit together with members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police have been deployed for further investigations,” the parks authorities said.
This incident comes days after Zimbabwean authorities arrested a suspected poacher, Tony Maphosa, who is accused of poisoning over 100 elephants with cyanide in Hwange National Park.
Maphosa, who had been on the run since 2013, was found with two elephant tusks and is also suspected to be behind the recent deaths of eight elephants this year.
In a separate case, two men, David Ndlovu (42) and Nkathazo Penga (33), were each sentenced to nine years in prison after admitting to killing five elephants by lacing oranges with cyanide.
The pair was arrested, while attempting to sell ivory in the Cross Dete area.
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In May this year, four suspects were arrested in Harare for unlawful possession of ivory weighing 23kg after police detectives acted on a tip-off.
Masauso Nevhaya (48), Priscilla Chabata (52), Wonder Bozho (51) and Stanford Mbiriyakura (49) were apprehended by CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna detectives in Braeside along Seke Road near Telecel Zimbabwe, while allegedly looking for buyers.
Police recovered 35 elephant tusks stashed in brown sacks in a Datsun Go vehicle. A follow-up search at Chabata’s residence led to the recovery of six more tusks, bringing the total to 41.
“We remain committed to ensuring zero poaching in all our protected areas. We appeal to members of the public with information that may assist in the arrest of the poachers to contact us,” ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said.
Zimbabwe is home to one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, but poaching driven by the illegal ivory trade remains a major threat. Despite overall poaching numbers having declined in recent years, isolated incidents continue to put pressure on elephant populations in key national parks.
Hwange National Park spans over 14 600 square kilometres and has been the scene of several high-profile wildlife crimes in the past decade.
