Zimbabwe plans to slaughter 200 elephants to provide food for those affected by drought

Zimbabwe is to slaughter 200 elephants in order to provide food for rural populations experiencing severe famine following the most severe drought in forty years, according to wildlife officials.

The drought triggered by El Nino catastrophically destroyed crops in southern Africa, affecting 68 million people and resulting in food scarcity throughout the continent.

“It is confirmed that we intend to selectively remove approximately 200 elephants nationwide.” The spokesman for Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks), Tinashe Farawo, said Reuters that they are now developing methods for implementing the proposed approach.

“The elephant meat will be allocated to communities in Zimbabwe impacted by the drought,” he stated.

This cull, which is the first of its kind in the country since 1988, will occur in the districts of Hwange, Mbire, Tsholotsho, and Chiredzi. It is in line with Namibia’s recent decision to slaughter 83 elephants and provide their meat to those affected by the drought.

With an estimated population of over 200,000 elephants, the conservation area spanning five southern African countries – Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, and Namibia – is home to one of the greatest elephant populations globally.

According to Farawo, the culling is a component of the country’s initiatives to alleviate congestion in its parks, which have a capacity of managing only 55,000 elephants. Zimbabwe harbors a population of more than 84,000 elephants.

“It is an endeavor to alleviate congestion in the parks in response to the drought.” “The figures of 200 elephants are insignificant compared to the current population of 84,000 elephants,” he stated.

Given the prolonged drought, the scarcity of resources can lead to an escalation in human-wildlife confrontations. Zimbabwe had 50 fatalities from elephant attacks last year.

The government, renowned for its conservation initiatives and successful expansion of its elephant population, has been actively urging the United Nations’ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to allow the resumption of transactions involving ivory and live elephants.

Zimbabwe, with one of the most extensive elephant herds, retains ivory reserves valued at over $600,000 that remain untapped.