Zimbabwe and Namibia are facing a severe drought that is causing hunger for many people. In response, both countries have made a controversial decision to kill hundreds of elephants and distribute the meat to feed their starving citizens.
In Zimbabwe, Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks), announced that around 200 elephants will be killed. These elephants will be hunted in areas like Hwange, Mbire, Tsholotsho, and Chiredzi, where their numbers have grown too large for the land to sustain them. The meat will be sent to communities hit hardest by the drought, where crops have failed and food is scarce.
Farawo explained that while the idea of killing elephants may seem harsh, it is a necessary measure because the elephant population in these areas has grown beyond what the environment can handle. The decision is part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to manage its wildlife and help people survive a drought that has been worsened by the El Niño weather phenomenon. This year, the country declared the drought its worst in 40 years, with more than half of the population requiring food assistance. Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, even asked for $2 billion in aid to help feed the millions of people affected.
The situation is similar in Namibia, where officials recently announced that 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, would be killed. The meat will also be distributed to communities facing severe hunger. Other animals on the list include hippos, zebras, buffaloes, and wildebeests. Like Zimbabwe, Namibia is trying to balance the survival of its people with the need to manage its wildlife population, which is becoming too large for the land to support during this long-lasting drought.
Zimbabwe has the second-largest population of bush elephants in the world, with about 100,000 elephants, only behind Botswana. However, the lack of water and food caused by the drought has also taken a toll on these animals. Last year, more than 100 elephants died from thirst and hunger. Farawo expressed concern that more elephants could die in the coming weeks if the drought continues. The goal of the culling is not only to help feed hungry people but also to prevent more elephants from suffering due to the lack of resources.
This controversial move has sparked debates over the balance between wildlife conservation and human survival. Some argue that killing elephants is necessary to save both the people and the animals, while others believe there should be alternative solutions. Still, for the struggling communities of Zimbabwe and Namibia, this decision may be a matter of life and death.
As Zimbabwe and Namibia look for ways to survive the drought, the world watches to see how these countries handle this crisis, and what it could mean for the future of wildlife conservation in Africa.
