Conservationists have warned of a threat to wildlife after cruel poachers poisoned ponds popular with wild animals.
Poachers targeted animals living on the Hwange National Park reserve in Zimbabwe, causing the death of a family of elephants.
Distraught conservationists made the grim discovery on Sunday and quickly notified authorities with the fear that more animals could be killed by the cyanide-laced watering holes.
The Emergency and Disaster Information Service issued a biohazard warning after the family of elephants were discovered dead after their water hole had been poisoned with lethal cyanide.
The organisation wrote on Facebook: “Ten elephants are reported to have died from fresh cyanide poisoning at Hwange National Park amid revelations that more wild animals could have died after consuming carcasses or through drinking water from ponds laced with the deadly chemical by poachers.
“The recent incident which is said to have occurred about five kilometres south west of Hwange National Park's Main Camp, poses a threat to the country's wildlife conservation efforts and the tourism sector.
“In 2013, the country lost more than 100 elephants and a substantial number of other wild animals due to rampant cyanide poaching.”
Poachers are attempting to use more and more methods to kill elephants in order to steal ivory.
Many endangered species at conservation parks now require armed guards to protect them from hunters.
The issue of hunting- in particular trophy hunting- made headlines earlier this year when ‘famous’ lion Cecil was butchered by an American dentist.
The incident caused international outcry and calls for dentist Walter Palmer to be extradited back to Africa to face poaching charges.
To find out more about how to protect endangered species, visit wwf.org