Zimbabwe wildlife officials are preparing for "the largest translocation of wildlife" in the country's history to save thousands of animals from a killer drought.

The bone-dry conditions are plaguing the country's main conservation zones in Mana Pools and Hwange National Park.  At least 200 elephants have died in the last two months.  In fact, residents of Jutshume village near Hwange shared a video of an elephant calf that had fallen into a well last month after desperately searching for water.  That calf was rescued, but hundreds of others were not so lucky.

Rangers will undertake a herculean task of moving wildlife from the area to three other national parks, including:  600 elephants; two prides of lion; a pack of wild dogs; 50 buffalo; 40 giraffes; and 2,000 impala.  The operation will take weeks, and will begin at the onset of the rainy season this month, when the pastures grow and will provide grazing for the herbivores.

For the people of Zimbabwe, there is deep concern.  The United Nations says the drought has left more than 5 million rural people - nearly a third of the population - at risk of food shortages before the next harvest in 2020.