GUWAHATI: Namibia is set to cull 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, to provide meat to those affected by the severe drought impacting southern Africa, according to reports from the Environment Ministry.
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The cull will reportedly occur in national parks and communal lands where wildlife populations are outstripping available grazing and water resources, the Ministry announced on Monday.
Southern Africa is enduring its most severe drought in decades, and Namibia has depleted 84 percent of its food reserves as of last month, the United Nations reports. Nearly half of Namibia's population is projected to face significant food insecurity in the coming months. The Environment Ministry warns that without intervention, human-wildlife conflicts are likely to escalate due to the drought.
In response, the Ministry plans to reportedly cull 83 elephants from high-conflict areas, with the meat being directed to drought relief efforts. Additionally, the culling will include 30 hippos, 60 buffalo, 50 impala, 100 blue wildebeest, 300 zebra, and 100 elands. So far, professional hunters and government-contracted companies have already culled 157 animals, producing over 56,800 kilograms of meat.
The Environment Ministry stated that this measure is essential and aligns with the constitutional mandate to use natural resources for the benefit of Namibian citizens. The conservation area encompassing five southern African countries—Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, and Namibia—is home to an estimated 200,000 elephants, making it one of the largest elephant populations globally.
(With inputs from Reuters)
