Zimbabwe To Cull 200 Elephants To Feed Its Citizens Amid Drought
The decision follows Namibia’s recent move to cull elephants and other wildlife to address food insecurity worsened by a prolonged drought.
Zimbabwe’s elephant population is over 84,000, nearly double its estimated capacity of 45,000
Authorities in Zimbabwe have given the go-ahead for the slaughtering of 200 elephants to feed hungry citizens left hungry by its worst drought in decades. Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority told CNN that with nearly half of the country’s population facing the risk of acute hunger, “we are targeting to cull 200 elephants.”
The decision follows Namibia’s recent move to cull elephants and other wildlife to address food insecurity worsened by a prolonged drought. These culls have faced criticism from animal rights advocates and conservationists.
According to Farawo, Zimbabwe’s elephant population is over 84,000, nearly double its estimated capacity of 45,000. It is the second largest globally after Botswana.
Last week, Environment Minister Sithembiso Nyoni informed parliament that Zimbabwe has more elephants than needed and more than the forests can sustain. She noted that elephant overpopulation leads to resource shortages, intensifying human-wildlife conflict.
Nyoni added that the government is considering strategies similar to Namibia’s, including counting the elephants and organizing communities, especially women, to preserve and distribute the meat to protein-deficient regions.
