Jalandhar: In an urgent effort to address the severe drought and food scarcity worsened by the EL Nino weather phenomenon, Zimbabwe and Namibia have announced controversial plans to cull hundreds of wild elephants and various other species due to scarcity.

In Zimbabwe, the Hwange, Mbire, Tsholotsho, and Chiredzi areas are going to hold the nation’s first cull since 1988.

In Zimbabwe’s Mudzi area, a woman distributes traditional porridge during a drought. Source: Reuters

Licenses to shoot elephants will be granted in those regions

Elephants gathered around a watering hole in Hwange National Park.

Source: Reuters

According to Tinashe Farawo, a representative of the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has approved the killing of 200 elephants to supply meat as food for struggling communities, while Namibia has already initiated a similar program, targeting over 700 wild animals, including 83 elephants.

According to the reports, more than 100 elephants have already died, and the situation is expected to get worse due to the country entering its hottest year.

Who Is the Culprit?

The EL Nino-induced drought devasted southern Africa, which led to widespread crop failures and left 68 million people facing food shortages across the region.

Approvals And Disapprovals for Culling

To address the crisis, Tinashe Farawao, a spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority told CNN that permits will be granted to needy communities for elephant hunting and that the agency will also kill a portion of the overall population of 200 elephants.

Contrastly, the Head of the Zimbabwe-based Center for Natural Resource Governance, Farai Maguwu expressed disapproval of the culling of elephants for food. He tweeted, 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 won’t have any elephants to talk about. Hands off our wildlife!

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

Image source: Twitter

Women’s Role and Source for Elephants for Culling

The Zimbabwe government has also planned to mobilize women to distribute dry and packed meats to provide protein among the communities in need. Farawao extended that they will commence culling once the issuing and distribution are complete.

Farawoa explained that the elephants will be sourced from regions where the elephant population has reached unsustainable levels. The hunting activities for the elephants are scheduled to take place in locations such as Hwange National Park.

What Are the Reasons Behind the Approval of Culling Elephants?

The objective of these measures is to tackle the immediate food crisis while managing wildlife populations in response to increasing human-wildlife conflicts and the depletion of natural resources as last year 50 people in Zimbabwe were killed by elephants.

The Hwange National Park is situated in the arid western part of the county, where there has been an increasing competition for food and water resources between Humans and Animals. The escalating competition has intensified due to rising temperatures depleting their essential resource to scarcity.

Namibia Also Calls for Cull

Similar to Zimbabwe, Namibia has also approved the culling of 723 animals, including 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 300 zebras, and 100 elands.

As per the Namibia government, the animals will be taken from five of Namibias national parks, where the number of elephants is rising due to conflicts between humans and animals.

These five of Namibia’s national parks include:

Etosha National Park
Namib-Naukluft Park
Mangetti National Park
Bwabwata National Park
Mudumu National Park

Environment Department Muyunda states Culling Animals Necessary

Environment Department spokesperson Romeo Muyunda stated that these actions for policies and permits of culling animals for food when needed are essential and align with their constitutional obligation. This action ensures that their natural resources are used for the benefit of the Namibian citizens.

Environment Department spokesperson Romeo Muyunda

Source: NBC NA

Botswana Takes Mercy

In contrast to this, Botswana situated between Zimbabwe and Namibia, boasts the largest population of elephants globally, which is estimated at 13,000 takes mercy on their elephants. However, unlike its neighboring countries, Botswana hasnt considered issuing any permits for culling its elephants or wild animals to feed its population.

When Was the First Zimbabwe Elephant Cull?

Zimbabwe currently has an elephant population of over 84,000 and 55,000 in its national parks. Since 1988, this will be the first elephant cull that took place in districts such as Hwange, Mbire, Tsholotsho, and Chiredzi.