REUTERS At least 62 elephants have been killed by suspected cyanide poisonings in the last month

Slumped and lifeless, the appalling photographs show some of at least 62 elephants slaughtered in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe in a matter of days. Their bloodied ivory tusks lay among butchered trunks as distraught park rangers look on. They are the latest victims in a spate of terrifying killings, which are also believed to have been caused by cyanide.

Salt stones and oranges have been found laced with the poison. ***WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT: SOME READERS MAY FIND THESE IMAGES DISTRESSING***

REUTERS A group of elephants, believed to have been killed by poachers, lie dead

REUTERS A group of elephants, believed to have been killed by poachers, lie dead at a watering hole

It is not known who is behind the brutal beheadings, but it is now feared the poisonings could have been carried out by park rangers protesting over poor pay. The most recent attack against the gentle giants saw 22 elephants, including their babies, killed after being poisoned by the toxic chemical. The grizzly discovery of the elephant carcasses were also accompanied by the finding of 35 tusks, according to a spokeswoman for the parks and wildlife management authority. It was first thought poachers may have made the kills but it is feared the elephants may have been killed by those close around them in a twisted act of spite.

REUTERS A group of elephants, believed to have been killed by poachers

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Rangers at the park are furious over their poor and erratic wages, according to reports. It was claimed they have only just received their pay due last month, while management have failed to cough up costs for watering hole pumps. An unnamed source from the National Parks and Wildlife Authority in Zimbabwe said there were "serious management problems" within the park. He added: "Some of the rangers are very dissatisfied with their remuneration and say they are not getting some allowances they believe they should get.

GETTY The most recent attack saw 22 elephants killed

We can't continue to lose wildlife at such a rate Caroline Washaya-Moyo

"So many of us believe some of the poaching at the moment is organised and executed by some rangers in parks, and we don't know how this will be sorted out." A well-known hunter in the area agreed some rangers had part to play in the poisonings. Headman Sibanda said: "Some of them believe they should be getting allowances and they are not, but some senior management are getting allowances unfairly." The latest elephant slaughter was discovered on Monday, bringing the total number of deaths this month alone to 62. Less than two weeks ago, 26 elephants died in separate poisoning incidents just outside the park. Then last month, at least 14 elephants were killed in various attacks where cyanide was thought to have been involved.

GETTY More than 300 elephants died last year in suspected cyanide poisonings

AP The attacks happened near the park where Cecil the lion once roamed