The scourge of poachers who use poison to kill animals has hit Zimbabwe for a second time this month, and the elephant death toll doubled as a result.

Zimbabwe's Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi confirmed that poachers used cyanide to poison a water hole, killing more than 80 elephants for their ivory in Zimbabwe's largest game reserve.  They got away with more than 100 tusks, likely bound for the black market in Southeast Asia. 

“When we left Hwange National Park on Sunday, the total number of elephants that had died from cyanide poisoning was 81,” said Jerry Gotora, a director of the Zimbabwe parks department.

41 elephants were killed in a similar manner earlier this month.  Park officials say the problem isn’t just limited to elephants.  Other animals use the water holes, and the cyanide kills those creatures, too.  And the scavengers who feed on the fallen animals die. 

Meanwhile across Africa in Cameroon, a court has sentenced a poacher to three years in prison for his role in the slaughter of more than 100 elephants in Central Africa. Symphorien Sangha was also fined more than A$43,000.  Sangha’s brother is expected to get a similar sentence at week’s end.