Four Rhinos and Other Animals Die From Polluted Water in Zimbabwe Lake Chivero

Four white rhinos and several other animals died in Zimbabwe after drinking from Lake Chivero, which was polluted with cyanobacteria.

The lake, 30 km from Harare, also supplies water to the capital. The cyanobacteria is toxic to both animals and humans.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo blamed water pollution, including raw sewage from Harare, for the cyanobacteria in Lake Chivero. To prevent further deaths, the remaining rhinos were relocated.

Despite efforts to stop wildlife from drinking polluted water, hot, dry conditions made it challenging.

ZimParks placed salt blocks, game nuts, and clean water points to deter animals from drinking from the polluted lake, but these measures were insufficient as the animals continued to drink from it.

White rhinos are “near threatened,” with around 10,080 in Africa. Black rhinos, classified as critically endangered, number about 3,140 globally.

In 2017, Zimbabwe had 496 black rhinos and 374 white rhinos, down from 3,500 black rhinos in the 1970s, the largest population in the world.

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