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 t...