More than 100 buffaloes drowned in a stampede in Zambia’s Kafue National Park as they crossed a stream in an annual migration.

According to local media reports, decomposed carcasses surfaced this week on the shores of a stream in Itezhi-Tezhi district, putting the death of the animals to a fortnight ago.

“It is a disaster. Officers patrolling the area have discovered 105 decomposing carcasses,” said district commissioner Hendrix Kaimana.

The animals form part of Zambia’s big game population that is the cornerstone of the nation’s tourism industry, and one of the biggest employers and foreign exchange earners. They move in small to very large herds of up to 400 strong, mainly in the Kafue and South Luangwa National Parks.

Kaimana said the incident was a setback as government wanted to bring tourism on par with agriculture in importance for driving diversified economic growth.

The latest incident was preceded by 132 deaths in previous years – 81 in 2012 and 51 in 2015.