ELEPHANTS and other animals are dying as they feed off rubbish dumped by humans encroaching on their land.

Four elephants died recently after feeding at a landfill site built in Botswana's second biggest national park.

The elephants are among scores of animals whose deaths have been blamed on the dumping site.

"I can say we had over 150 deaths of various animal species as a result of feeding at the dumping site,'' said wildlife warden Thunya Sedododma.

The Chobe district is famous for its elephants with the biggest population on the planet - some 120,000 - living in the region which also boasts the largest elephants found in the world.

With one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the world, the landfill in the park poses serious risks to animals such as hyena, baboons, birds and other animals which flock to feed at the dump, Mr Sedododma said.

He said game rangers often found plastic in elephant faeces and noted increasing numbers of elephant deaths in the area.

Environmentalists say they are investigating the deaths of the elephants.

"It is a very unfortunate situation the dumping site has caused. Our elephants attract international attention, so we should be seen to be caring about their health,'' said Felix Mongae of Botswana's Kalahari Conservation Society.

Meanwhile the local council is planning a second dumping site alongside the current one which is bursting at the seams, a choice they have been forced to make due to a shortage of land in the area.

Officials said the new dumping site would be fenced and electrified to keep the wildlife away.

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