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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
At least 26 elephants were on Tuesday found poisoned by cyanide in the Hwange National Park, barely a week after 14 jumbos died, the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority has said.

Parks spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo said 16 jumbos were found dead in Lupande area while another 10 were found at Chakabvi in Nyamatela.

“Parks officers recovered 14 tusks while seven others had their tusks poached. One kilogramme of cyanide was also recovered at the site while two vultures were also found dead and an ensnared eland,” said Ms Washaya-Moyo.

She said the Parks authority had increased areas of surveillance, enhanced ground patrols including joint patrols with members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

They had also added semi-permanent patrol bases while mapping and monitoring of water-bodies.

“We are working with the Environmental Management Agency to carry out cyanide tests and proper disposal of poisoned carcasses. Further we are intensifying awareness with local communities and we want to lobby for stiffer penalties for handling hazardous substances,” said Ms Washaya-Moyo.

She said no arrests had been made as parks officers and police have mounted investigations to bring culprits to book.

Of the 14 elephants killed last week, three were killed in Matusadonha National Park while 11 were found dead in two different spots in Hwange National Park. In all cases the elephants were killed by cyanide, according to kidney and liver samples from the dead elephants tested by the Biological Sciences Department.