At least 13 elephants have been killed in a cyanide poisoning incident in Victoria Falls.
According Zimbabwe’s state television the 13 dead animals were discovered, some with missing tusks.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is quoted saying, two suspects have been nabbed in connection with the cyanide poisoning.
The wildlife authority said the arrest of the two has brought to 30 the number of poachers nabbed in one month.
Zimparks director general, Fulton Mangwanya has described the incident as unfortunate and highlighted the need for coordinated approach in addressing the scourge of poaching.
Cyanide poisoning has become the most common means of poaching, with the first case having been reported in 2013 when 100 elephants were killed.
Over 1000 elephants have reportedly been killed by cyanide poisoning since 2013 and the trend continues.
In Zimbabwe, about 24 000 elephants have been lost to poachers over the past 20 years, prejudicing the hard currency starved economy of an estimated $3 billion in trophy hunting fees alone.
