Outrage Over Zimbabwe's Plans To Cull 200 Elephants
Plans by the Zimbabwean government to cull 200 elephants have raised widespread concerns and generated global coverage, with the move deemed shocking.
The country boasts a herd of over 84 000 elephants, the second largest in the world after neighbouring Botswana. The large population has led to spiking cases of human-wildlife conflict, especially in hugely densified areas like the Hwange National Park, which carries 65 000 elephants—four times its capacity.
The move, confirmed by Tinashe Farawo, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson, is meant to curb hunger amidst a drought which has left millions food insecure. Farawo says 200 out of over 80 000 elephants is a drop in the ocean as overpopulation puts both animals and humans at risk.
The fact is we have more elephants than what our ecosystem can support. The elephants have become a danger unto themselves.
The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) says it is shocked and deeply concerned by the decision ostensibly to feed hungry citizens and reduce the elephant population, arguing the decision is unsustainable and does very little to address the drought effects or the conservation cause.
We fear this is a major policy reversal that defeats excellent conservation work championed by the government and private players over the past four decades. The move has the potential to open floodgates for poaching, especially bearing in mind that the poisoning of elephants and smuggling of ivory has been a continuous challenge over the years...
CNRG added that Zimbabwe’s staple food remains maize, supplemented by other small grains such as corn, sorghum, finger millet, wheat, and rice. These are what makes the difference between starvation and food security, not elephant meat.
Although we acknowledge the devastating effects of one of the worst droughts in decades, we do not believe the meat of 200 elephants will fill that food deficit. According to the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZIMLAC) about 6 million people in rural areas and 1.7 million in urban areas – more than half the country’s population – will need food assistance between now and the next harvest. A robust, well-thought-out and sustainable strategy to feed the hungry population is required.”
Roselilly Ushewokunze, a Climate Change and Food Systems Consultant, questions whether we should cull humans to contain their ever-growing population too?
When it comes to averting hunger, culling 200 elephants is far from being the solution, even as a short term measure. We knew that we were going to have a drought and perhaps we could be more disaster ready rather than reactive when it comes to issues to do with food security. This was not done nonetheless we need solutions. 200 elephants will certainly not alleviate hunger, at least not for over 7 million people.” says Ushewokunze
Zimbabwe last culled elephants in 1988, while neighbouring Namibia in August approved the culling of 723 animals, including 83 elephants,
Zimbabwe is facing one of its worst droughts, declared a national disaster and many families in the rural areas are living off government handouts as vast portions were wiped out by the El Nino-induced drought.
Outrage Over Zimbabwe’s Plans To Cull 200 Elephants
