Zimbabwe to cull 200 elephants amid severe drought

Zimbabwe is set to cull 200 elephants in response to an unprecedented drought that has exacerbated food shortages and overpopulation of the species.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) has been directed by the government to address the growing elephant population, which has led to conflicts with humans, particularly in areas such as Hwange, home to Zimbabwe's largest national park, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.  

Environment Minister Sithembiso Nyoni mentioned in parliament that Zimbabwe has "more elephants than it needs." The culling is also intended to address these conflicts and ensure that the meat benefits local communities. Nyoni highlighted a strategy similar to Namibia's, where community involvement in processing and distributing the meat is planned. Zimbabwe, with an estimated 100,000 elephants, has the second-largest elephant population globally, following Botswana.

Due to conservation efforts, Hwange National Park now hosts 65,000 elephants, significantly exceeding its capacity, according to ZimParks. This will be Zimbabwe’s first elephant culling since 1988.   In response to a severe drought, neighboring Namibia has already culled 160 wildlife animals, including 83 elephants, as part of a larger plan to cull over 700 animals. Southern African countries, including Zimbabwe and Namibia, have declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing drought.   Approximately 42 per cent of Zimbabweans live in poverty, with about 6 million people expected to need food assistance during the lean season from November to March.  

The decision to cull elephants for food has faced criticism, primarily because elephants are a significant tourist attraction. Farai Maguwu, director of the nonprofit Centre for Natural Resource Governance, argues that the government should explore more sustainable, eco-friendly drought management strategies that do not harm tourism. He also expressed concerns about the ethical implications of the culling and the message it sends about resource management.  

On the other hand, conservationist Chris Brown, CEO of the Namibian Chamber of Environment, supports the culling, noting that unchecked elephant populations can severely damage ecosystems and impact other species. Namibia's government has defended its decision, stating that the culling will only affect a small portion of the estimated 20,000 elephants and will help alleviate pressure on grazing and water resources.