Zimbabwe's elephant population exceeds 84,000, almost double its estimated capacity of 45,000.
Authorities in Zimbabwe have given the green light for the slaughter of 200 elephants to feed hungry citizens suffering from the worst drought in decades. Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, told CNN that, with nearly half the country's population at risk of acute famine, “we aim to shoot 200 elephants.”
The decision follows Namibia's recent move to cull elephants and other wildlife to address food insecurity exacerbated by a prolonged drought, a move that has been criticised by animal rights activists and conservationists.
According to Farawo, Zimbabwe's elephant population is more than 84,000, almost double its estimated capacity of 45,000. It is the second largest in the world after Botswana.
Last week, Environment Minister Sithembiso Nyoni informed parliament that Zimbabwe has more elephants than it needs and more than its forests can support. She noted that elephant overpopulation leads to resource shortages, which intensifies human-wildlife conflict.
Nyoni added that the government is considering strategies similar to those in Namibia, including counting elephants and organising communities, particularly women, to preserve and distribute the meat to protein-deficient regions.
“When wild animals overpopulate a park, they venture outside in search of resources such as water or vegetation. This brings them into contact with people, which causes conflict,” Nyoni explains.
In Namibia, the government has approved the culling of 700 wild animals, including elephants, to be distributed to people facing food shortages. So far, 150 animals have been killed and more than 125,000 pounds of meat distributed, according to the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
Zimbabwe and Namibia are among the countries in southern Africa facing severe drought, exacerbated by El Niño and climate change.
Farawo, a spokesman for Zimbabwe's parks authority, said the culling will begin once the required documentation is completed. The culling will focus on regions with dense elephant populations.
However, this proposed elephant culling was met with fierce resistance.
Farai Maguwu, head of the Zimbabwe-based Centre for Natural Resource Governance, condemned the practice on X, saying: “Elephants' slaughter must be stopped. Elephants have the right to exist,” adding that future generations deserve to see elephants in their natural habitat.
The culling of elephants has got to stop. Some see an opportunity to sell ivory illegally – with these private jets flying in week in, week out. With the way minerals are being plundered, we won't have an elephant to speak of any time soon. Hands off our wildlife!
— Farai Maguwu (@FMaguwu) September 15, 2024
Keith Lindsay, a conservation biologist and natural resources consultant, also worried that using wildlife to address food insecurity could lead to an unsustainable demand for bushmeat.
Farawo defended the cull, the first in Zimbabwe since 1988, as part of broader efforts to reduce human-elephant conflict after a series of fatal elephant attacks.
“The animals cause huge problems in communities and kill people. Just last week, a woman was killed by an elephant in the north of the country. The same thing happened the week before. So, culling is also a method of control,” he said.
At least 31 people have died in Zimbabwe this year due to human-wildlife conflict, according to local media.
