Zimbabwe is planning to kill around 50 elephants in Save Valley Conservancy to control the growing elephant population. According to a 2024 survey, the conservancy has 2,550 elephants, but the land can only support 800. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has approved this move as part of an “elephant management exercise.” 

Officials said this is not mass culling, which involves killing large numbers of animals, but a limited and targeted action. Over the past five years, around 200 elephants have been relocated to other parts of Zimbabwe. However, there is now no nearby land available that is free of elephants and suitable for relocation. ZimParks said the first phase of this plan will focus on studying the ecological, financial, and practical challenges involved in such operations.

Meat from the killed elephants will be given to local communities.The ivory will be handed over to ZimParks for safekeeping, as Zimbabwe is not allowed to sell it due to a global ban on the ivory trade.
The final number of elephants to be killed may change depending on herd sizes and how well officials can handle the carcasses. Authorities say the aim is to balance the number of elephants with what the land can support without damaging the environment.

Zimbabwe has the second-largest elephant population in the world, after Botswana. Officials have said that relocation remains their first choice, but space is limited. If needed, similar management actions may continue in the future.