Zimbabwe To Kill 200 Elephants To Feed Its Citizens Amid Drought!

Zimbabwe To Kill 200 Elephants

Authorities in Zimbabwe have approved the culling of 200 elephants to help feed citizens affected by the country’s worst drought in decades. Tinashe Farawo, spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, told CNN that with nearly half the population at risk of severe hunger, "we are targeting to cull 200 elephants."

This decision comes after Namibia took similar steps, culling elephants and other wildlife to tackle food insecurity worsened by an ongoing drought. Both countries have faced criticism from animal rights groups and conservationists over the culling.

Farawo explained that Zimbabwe’s elephant population stands at over 84,000, nearly twice its ecological capacity of 45,000. Zimbabwe’s elephant numbers are the second largest in the world, after Botswana.

Last week, Environment Minister Sithembiso Nyoni told parliament that Zimbabwe has more elephants than its environment can support, leading to resource shortages and escalating human-wildlife conflict. Nyoni indicated that the government is exploring initiatives like Namibia's, which includes counting elephants and organizing communities—particularly women—to preserve and distribute the meat to areas suffering from protein deficiency.

“When wildlife overpopulates a park, they leave in search of resources like water and vegetation, which brings them into contact with humans, leading to conflict,” Nyoni explained.

In Namibia, the government recently authorized the culling of 700 wild animals, including elephants, to help those facing food shortages. To date, 150 animals have been culled, and over 125,000 pounds of meat distributed, according to the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism.

Culling of elephants must be stopped. Some are eying an opportunity to sell ivory, illicitly - what with these private jets flying out week in, week out. With the way minerals are being looted, soon we wont have any elephant to talk about. Hands off our wildlife!

— Farai Maguwu (@FMaguwu) September 15, 2024

Both Zimbabwe and Namibia are suffering from a severe drought intensified by El Niño and climate change.

Farawo added that the culling in Zimbabwe will begin once the necessary documentation is completed, with the focus on areas with high elephant populations. 

However, the culling plan has sparked considerable opposition. Farai Maguwu, head of the Center for Natural Resource Governance, criticized the practice on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Culling elephants must be stopped. Elephants have a right to exist,” and emphasized that future generations should have the opportunity to see elephants in their natural habitats. Conservation biologist and natural resources consultant Keith Lindsay also raised concerns that relying on wildlife to address food insecurity could lead to unsustainable bushmeat demand.

Farawo defended the move, Zimbabwe’s first elephant cull since 1988, as a necessary part of reducing human-elephant conflicts, especially after a series of fatal elephant attacks. “The animals are creating serious problems in communities and killing people. Just last week, an elephant killed a woman in the northern part of the country, and the same happened the week before. Culling is also a method of control,” he said.

Local reports indicate that at least 31 people have died in Zimbabwe this year due to conflicts with wildlife.