Poachers carry out 'mass killing' of six elephants in one day in Ethiopia to remove tusks

File photo - According to wildlife officials, poaching and habitat degradation in Ethiopia have reduced the number of elephants about 2,500 from more than 10,000 elephants in the 1970s.

At least six elephants were killed in a single day by poachers in Ethiopia last week, wildlife officials said, the largest such slaughter in memory in the East African nation.

“The elephants were killed while they ventured out of the Mago National Park to drink water,” Ganabul Bulmi, the park’s chief warden, said.