Zimbabwe’s government revealed on Thursday that it is weighing a highly contentious proposal to cull its elephant population, aiming to address severe food shortages caused by an ongoing El Niño-induced drought. The plan, which has already sparked concerns among conservationists, is seen as a drastic measure to mitigate the effects of a climate crisis that has left millions across southern Africa without adequate food supplies.
Environment Minister Sithembiso Nyoni explained that the country’s forests are overburdened by an excessive number of elephants, far more than the ecosystem can support. As part of the proposal, authorities are exploring the possibility of partnering with local communities and wildlife officials to implement a controlled culling process. In this initiative, local women would play a key role by drying and packaging the elephant meat, which would then be distributed to drought-stricken areas in desperate need of protein.
Nyoni emphasized that the current situation has reached a critical point, with Zimbabwe being one of several southern African nations facing extreme food insecurity. The World Food Programme estimates that millions are at risk of hunger due to the persistent drought conditions. Zimbabwe’s government has pointed to Namibia’s recent move as an example. Namibia announced plans to cull 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, as a response to similar challenges, using the meat to feed affected communities.
While the proposal might seem like a practical solution to a growing crisis, it has already attracted significant criticism. Conservationists warn that such measures could harm Zimbabwe’s international reputation, as elephants are protected under various global agreements, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Critics also argue that elephants, unlike livestock, cannot simply be culled without adhering to strict regulations and international guidelines.
Farai Maguwu, a prominent advocate for natural resource governance, voiced concerns over the true motives behind the culling plan. According to Maguwu, Zimbabwe has long been advocating for more lenient regulations around elephant management, with some suspecting that the government’s underlying goal is to profit from the sale of ivory. “This is not just about addressing food shortages,” Maguwu stated. “The focus seems to be on exploiting elephants for economic gain under the guise of feeding communities.”
Zimbabwe’s history of elephant management has been a contentious issue, with previous attempts to push for ivory sales meeting strong opposition from conservation groups and the international community. While the government insists that the culling would be done in a controlled and sustainable manner, the ethical implications and potential consequences for the country’s wildlife remain a point of fierce debate.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Zimbabwe will move forward with the proposal, and if so, how the international community and conservationists will respond. What is clear, however, is that Zimbabwe is grappling with an urgent need for solutions as it faces both ecological and humanitarian crises.
Critics argue that the Zimbabwean government should explore alternative methods to support drought-stricken communities rather than resorting to elephant culling. “There are many other ways to assist people affected by the drought without killing elephants,” said a prominent advocate. “The government should reconsider this approach.”
Zimbabwe reports a population of around 100,000 elephants, significantly exceeding its carrying capacity of 45,000. The country has faced difficulties selling these elephants due to international regulations.
Minister of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife Sithembiso Nyoni assured that any proposed culling would adhere to Zimbabwean laws. “If we had the opportunity, we would have sold our ivory by now,” Nyoni remarked. “The nations blocking us from selling ivory have already depleted their own wildlife and don’t face the same human-wildlife conflicts that we do, yet they heavily influence international decisions. This creates a significant challenge for Zimbabwe. There’s even discussion about leaving these international agreements to manage our own wildlife, but such a move would come with serious repercussions. We want to manage our wildlife independently, but global obligations constrain us.”
Nyoni added that Zimbabwe plans to continue negotiations with other countries to seek permission for trading ivory and elephants.
Efforts to obtain a comment from international regulatory bodies were unsuccessful.
