<p>Zimbabwe wildlife authorities on Thursday said they suspect ten more elephants succumbed to a bacterial infection that killed 12 young pachyderms last week.</p>.<p>The latest carcasses were discovered on Tuesday and Wednesday near the northwestern Pandamasuwe Forest, where the previous 12 were found.</p>.<p>"We now have a total of 22 elephants that have died," parks and wildlife authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo told AFP on Thursday.</p>.<p>"We have taken samples for testing but we suspect they died from the same cause as the 12 that were found dead last week."</p>.<p>Laboratory results suggest the first dozen -- discovered between Hwange National Park and the resort town of Victoria Falls -- were killed by a bacteria.</p>.<p>Park authorities believe the elephants, aged between two and six, were too short to eat leaves from treetops and may have ingested the bacteria by grazing on infected plants.</p>.<p>They ruled out poaching because the animals were found with their tusks intact.</p>.<p>Zimbabwe has more than 84,000 elephants. Scores of elephants have succumbed to starvation and lack of water in recent years.</p>.<p>Others have been poisoned by poachers for their ivory, used to make ornaments and traditional medicine in Asia and the Middle East.</p>.<p>At least 300 elephants died of cyanide poisoning at water holes in Hwange in 2013.</p>.<p>Neighbouring Botswana, home to the world's largest elephant population of around 130,000, lost around 300 elephants early this year. They are thought to have succumbed to natural toxins.</p>
<p>Zimbabwe wildlife authorities on Thursday said they suspect ten more elephants succumbed to a bacterial infection that killed 12 young pachyderms last week.</p>.<p>The latest carcasses were discovered on Tuesday and Wednesday near the northwestern Pandamasuwe Forest, where the previous 12 were found.</p>.<p>"We now have a total of 22 elephants that have died," parks and wildlife authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo told AFP on Thursday.</p>.<p>"We have taken samples for testing but we suspect they died from the same cause as the 12 that were found dead last week."</p>.<p>Laboratory results suggest the first dozen -- discovered between Hwange National Park and the resort town of Victoria Falls -- were killed by a bacteria.</p>.<p>Park authorities believe the elephants, aged between two and six, were too short to eat leaves from treetops and may have ingested the bacteria by grazing on infected plants.</p>.<p>They ruled out poaching because the animals were found with their tusks intact.</p>.<p>Zimbabwe has more than 84,000 elephants. Scores of elephants have succumbed to starvation and lack of water in recent years.</p>.<p>Others have been poisoned by poachers for their ivory, used to make ornaments and traditional medicine in Asia and the Middle East.</p>.<p>At least 300 elephants died of cyanide poisoning at water holes in Hwange in 2013.</p>.<p>Neighbouring Botswana, home to the world's largest elephant population of around 130,000, lost around 300 elephants early this year. They are thought to have succumbed to natural toxins.</p>