Other problems that are emerging are constant poaching and loss of game, the poisoning of animals, a method also used by poachers and the introduction of diseased settler cattle, which results in spreading anthrax of foot-and –mouth disease. The seventy elephants that currently reside at the CRC are being harassed, threatened with burning logs, chased and snared by invaders. Some calves have gone
missing, while at least two adults have been killed, decapitated and their ivory removed – one of them was a lactating cow. As a result of their strong bond with the owners of the CRC, the elephants are familiar with people and are quite placid. However, the onslaught of invaders are destroying their territory and forcing them into smaller areas of the conservancy. An adult elephant requires more than 190 litres of drinking water on a daily basis, and even more during the intense heat in the mid-summer. The invaders have polluted the tranquil pools near the conservancy by washing their clothes in the water and driving their livestock down to drink. The pools now reek with bad odour and water has become undrinkable for the elephants. In an attempt to search for water resources, the herd walked along Mungwezi River to the two dams containing drinkable water, when they were chased by a hostile group of invaders. The herds distressed cries echoed across the reserve. Desperation for water resulted in two bulls recently straying out of their territory where they have residing in relative solitude since 1992, where they raided a teacher’s house in the Mugwezi community area. Their unusual behaviour is attributed to the human disturbance and encroachment of their natural habitat. Mugwezi residents have threatened to shoot or even poison them. Concerns have been raised, as continuous hostility will cause the relatively peaceful animals more alarm, confusion and aggression. The situation for the elephants and wildlife looks bleak unless funding is sourced to protect them until an urgent solution is found.
