Zimbabwe and Namibia plan to cull hundreds of Elephants and wildlife to combat hunger crisis

Two African nations, Zimbabwe and Namibia, plan to kill elephants and other animals to combat hunger crisis as drought persists. On Monday, Zimbabwe said that it will euthanize over 200 elephants in order to distribute their meat to the starving people. Namibia has also started the process of culling more than 700 wild animals, 83 of which are elephants, in line with a plan unveiled three weeks ago.

Tinashe Farawo, the spokesperson of the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, confirmed that permits will be issued to communities to hunt elephants, and the agency will also supply the culling. Farawo said, “We will start culling as soon as we have finished issuing out permits.”

The elephants to be translocated in Zimbabwe are sourced from what the agency says are unsustainable numbers, such as the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe’s arid west. Currently, Hwange holds more than 45,000 elephants, while the park can accommodate only 15,000. Currently, Zimbabwe has almost a total elephant count of about 100,000,  which is nearly double the carrying capacity of the national park system.

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As if the effects of climatic factors were not enough, the drought occasioned by the El Nino weather phenomenon has compounded the situation, with more than 100 elephants having died by December, and the figure is expected to rise as a result of the rising temperatures occasioned by the same effects. Sithembiso Nyoni, Zimbabwe’s Environment Minister, approved the culling and said, “Indeed, Zimbabwe has more elephants than we need—more elephants than our forestry can accommodate.”

She said the government is in the process of developing a plan of this nature similar to Namibia to process and redistribute the meat to relevant communities. The Namibian government has authorized the shooting of 723 animals, including elephants, hippos, buffalos, impalas, and zebras, as well as land in five of the country’s national parks due to human-wildlife conflicts.

Spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said, “This is necessary and is in line with our constitutional mandate where our natural resources are used for the benefit of Namibian citizens. This is also a prime example that conservation of game is really beneficial.”

Zimbabwe and Namibia’s neighbors, Botswana, which currently is home to the largest population of elephants in the world with about 130, 000 of them, have not done the same. Food Security researcher Guyo Roba from Jameel Observatory said it is valid for Zimbabwe and Namibia to have put into practice what would have mainly been on paper due to their drought conditions and animal population challenges. Roba stated, “They are working against a wildlife population that is above their carrying capacity. So it may seem controversial initially, but the governments are torn between remaining faithful to some of their obligations at an international level in terms of conservation and supporting the population.”

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