Namibia has announced a controversial plan to cull 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, to combat the severe food shortage caused by the worst drought in a century, according to a report by The New York Times. Nearly 50% of Namibia’s 1.4 million citizens are facing hunger. The primary goal of this measure is to supply food to the population and minimize dangerous human-wildlife encounters driven by dwindling natural resources.
Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism defends the culling plan, stating that it is a “necessary” step in line with the country’s constitutional mandate to use natural resources for the benefit of its people. The practice of harvesting wild animals for food is not a new concept. Rose Mwebaza, the director of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Africa Office, emphasized, “Sustainable and well-managed harvesting of healthy wild animal populations can be a crucial source of nutrition for communities.”
Culling Wild Animals, Namibia is hungry for meat?
The drought is not limited to Namibia; it is affecting a vast region of southern Africa. According to the U.N. World Food Program, over 30 million people in the region have been impacted as of June. Benjamin Suarato, a spokesperson for the U.S. Agency for International Development, highlighted that while droughts are a frequent challenge in southern Africa, the current drought is particularly severe and widespread, spanning several years, including from 2018 to 2021. Juliane Zeidler, World Wildlife Fund’s country director in Namibia, reiterated, “There is no food. There is no food for people and no food for animals.”
The culling strategy involves the slaughter of 300 zebras, 30 hippos, 50 impalas, 60 buffaloes, 100 blue wildebeests, and 100 elands, a type of antelope. Namibia also aims to reduce human-wildlife interactions, which are expected to rise as both people and animals seek scarce water and vegetation during the drought. The danger posed by elephants, despite being herbivores, is significant, with reports from Reuters noting that elephants killed at least 50 people in Zimbabwe last year.
The United Nations recently underscored the severity of Namibia’s food crisis, with a spokesperson revealing that 84% of the nation’s food supplies have already been depleted.
Key Points To Be Noted
- Culling Plan: Namibia plans to cull 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, to provide food and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
- Severe Drought: The worst drought in a century has left nearly half of Namibia’s population in a hunger crisis.
- Regional Impact: The drought extends across southern Africa, affecting over 30 million people.
- Wildlife Management: Namibia’s plan includes culling zebras, hippos, impalas, buffaloes, blue wildebeests, and elands.
- Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Rising tensions between humans and wildlife due to scarce resources, with elephants posing significant danger.
As Namibia grapples with an unprecedented drought, the decision to cull wildlife has sparked both support and controversy. The measure highlights the challenges faced by countries reliant on natural resources in times of environmental crisis.
