The UN environmental agency gives the planet another dire warning: the Earth's human inhabitants will have to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 7% annually for the next decade if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change. The probability of such a dramatic cutback in emissions seems unlikely from the point in history.
The signs of deadly changes in weather are all around us. The latest tragic indicator is the death of over 200 elephants in the severe drought that has gripped Zimbabwe. The drought is so bad that wildlife officials have resorted to moving animals out of the drought zone in Hwange National Park and Mana Pools to save their lives. Residents of a village near Hwange rescued a calf that had fallen into a well in its disparate search for water. They managed to extract the baby, but a leg was apparently broken in the accident. The calf fled back into the wild. An adult elephant collapsed near the village. Villagers feed the elephant until it was strong enough to walk. Zimbabwe has one of the largest elephant concentrations in Africa, home to 85,000, but its protected natural areas can only support 55,000. Grazing lands have been severely depleted. Animal advocates have been donating bales of hay. Park officials are appealing for pumping equipment to provide water.
Drought conditions have left 5 million Zimbabweans, nearly one-third of its total human population without enough food until the next harvest. If it fails, starvation looms ahead. As desperate animals leave the park to find water and food in nearby communities, human conflicts are increasing. About 200 people have died in reported human-wildlife conflicts in the last five years.