Forbes StaffMore than 700 elephants, zebras, hippos, and other animals are being culled in Namibia from various national parks to feed the nation’s starving population.
According to a report, over 700 animals, including elephants, hippos, zebras, and others, are being culled from several national parks in Namibia to provide for people in the drought-hit nation. Last month, Zimbabwe announced that it would permit the culling of 200 elephants to distribute their meat to needy communities.
Parts of Southern Africa are culling elephants.
Parts of Southern Africa are culling elephants and other animals to feed the hungry and needy communities amid the worst drought in over a century, which has affected African nations. This decision follows the countries’ move to cull elephants and other wildlife to address the growing food insecurity caused by the ongoing and the worst drought. As per a report in The Wall Street Journal, Namibia is culling over 700 elephants, zebras, hippos, and other animals from various national parks to provide for the starving populations in drought-stricken areas, said the country’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism.
Africa is experiencing the worst drought in over a century.
Namibia and Zimbabwe are among the many Southern African countries that have experienced a severe drought attributed to a natural climate phenomenon, El Niño, that has led to minimal rainfall in the region since the beginning of the year. These nations are also increasingly susceptible to droughts worsened by climate change. As per CNN, citing local media, at least 31 people have lost their lives in Zimbabwe this year due to human-wildlife conflicts. Associated Press reported that the Namibian government permitted the culling of 723 animals, including 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffaloes, 50 impalas, 300 zebras, and 100 elands.
Sithembiso Nyoni, Zimbabwe’s Environment Minister, informed Parliament last week that she had approved the culling program, saying, “Indeed Zimbabwe has more elephants than we need, more elephants than our forestry can accommodate.” A spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Tinashe Farawo, was quoted by the Associated Press saying that permits would be issued in communities facing shortages to hunt elephants, and the agency would also cull some of the 200 animals allocated. The hunting will take place in regions like Hwange National Park in the country’s arid west.
