African elephant in the Ngorongoro Savanna. Photo by: KensCanning / Shutterstock
Namibia is preparing to kill over 700 animals, including elephants and zebras, to provide food for its starving population. The government made the announcement on Monday, August 29, 2024, citing the worst drought in a century as the main reason for this drastic measure. The drought has devastated food supplies, leaving millions of people in the region hungry.
The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism stated that professional hunters will carry out the culling. The plan involves killing 300 zebras, 100 blue wildebeest, 100 elands, 83 elephants, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, and 30 hippos. The animals will be hunted and killed in several national parks throughout the country. Already, over 150 animals have been killed in Mangetti National Park.
The ministry explained that the culling is part of a broader effort to address the country’s ongoing drought and food crisis. In addition to providing food for the population, it will help ease pressure on the land. The severe drought has limited water and grazing availability for both humans and wildlife. By reducing the number of wild animals, the ministry hopes to manage the balance between nature and human needs more effectively.
Namibia has been in a state of emergency since May due to the drought, and the situation has grown more severe in recent months. The government said that this drought is the worst in over a century, leaving the nation with few other options. As food supplies dwindle, the need to feed the population has become urgent.
One tragic example of the conflict between humans and wildlife came on August 25, when a 48-year-old Namibian citizen was killed by elephants in the Uukwaluudhi Conservancy. As elephants search for food and water, they are increasingly encroaching on human settlements. The culling is also intended to reduce these dangerous encounters between elephants and people.
The extreme drought has affected multiple countries in southern Africa, with millions of people facing hunger. While Namibia’s decision to kill wildlife for food has sparked debate, the government insists that it is a necessary step to ensure the survival of its citizens.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism emphasized that this measure is in line with Namibia’s constitutional mandate, which calls for the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of its people. The government stressed that this is a temporary solution, aimed at addressing the immediate crisis brought on by the ongoing drought.
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