Zimbabwe has announced a plan to cull 200 elephants in response to a severe drought that has left many communities facing acute food shortages. The drought, intensified by the El Niño weather phenomenon, has wreaked havoc across southern Africa, resulting in widespread crop failure and impacting approximately 68 million people in the region.
According to Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks), the elephant meat from this culling operation will be distributed to communities severely affected by the drought. This measure is intended to provide immediate relief to those struggling with food insecurity. The culling, which will be the first of its kind in Zimbabwe since 1988, will be carried out in several districts, including Hwange, Mbire, Tsholotsho, and Chiredzi.
This decision follows a similar initiative by Namibia, which recently culled 83 elephants to support its drought-stricken population. The southern African region, which spans Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, and Namibia, is home to one of the largest elephant populations in the world, estimated to exceed 200,000. Zimbabwe itself is hosting over 84,000 elephants, far exceeding the parks’ sustainable capacity of 55,000.
The culling is not only a response to the immediate crisis but also part of a broader strategy to manage park populations and alleviate overcrowding. Overpopulation in these parks can lead to significant environmental strain and exacerbate human-wildlife conflicts. Last year, such conflicts resulted in 50 fatalities from elephant attacks in Zimbabwe.
In addition to addressing these urgent issues, Zimbabwe is also seeking to bolster its conservation efforts by advocating for the reopening of international trade in ivory and live elephants. The country is lobbying the UN’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to lift the current restrictions, which would allow Zimbabwe to sell its substantial ivory stockpile, valued at approximately $600,000. This move aims to enhance the country’s conservation funding and support sustainable wildlife management.
