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Namibia Initiates Wildlife Cull Amid Severe Drought Crisis
In response to one of the most severe droughts the region has faced in decades, the Namibian government has begun a controversial cull targeting over 700 wild animals. So far, nearly 160 animals have been culled, according to a recent announcement from the environment ministry.
Last week, the government disclosed plans for this culling initiative as a strategy to alleviate the strain on diminishing grazing and water supplies while also providing meat to aid thousands of citizens facing hunger due to the drought’s impact. The operation is being executed by professional hunters and includes a range of species, with the cull specifically aiming to reduce numbers of 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 83 elephants, 100 blue wildebeest, 100 elands, and 300 zebras.
Most of the designated animals are located within Namibia’s protected national parks. As of now, environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda reported that 157 of the planned 723 animals have been killed, though the completion timeline for the cull remains uncertain, influenced by various operational factors.
Muyunda emphasized the cull’s goal of conducting the operation sustainably while minimizing distress for the animals involved. “We must carefully differentiate between those animals that will be hunted and those that will remain,” he explained. Additionally, to adhere to the international prohibition on ivory sales, the tusks from any elephants culled will be stored safely in government warehouses.
The ministry noted that, to date, the culling effort has resulted in approximately 56,875 kilograms of meat being distributed for humanitarian purposes. In May, Namibia declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing drought, which has expanded across many southern African nations.
According to the World Food Program, as of August, around 1.4 million Namibians—nearly half the nation’s population—are grappling with acute food insecurity. Crop production has plummeted by 53 percent, while dam water levels have diminished by 70 percent relative to last year.
Criticism and Concerns
The culling plan has drawn sharp criticism from animal rights advocates, with PETA labeling the government’s actions as short-sighted, cruel, and ineffective. In a public letter addressed to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, PETA’s senior vice president Jason Baker urged the nation to reconsider its approach.
Baker articulated concerns that the cull might disrupt ecological balances, warning that the death of even a few elephants could lead to devastating impacts on their populations and exacerbate human-wildlife conflicts.
Further voices of dissent have emerged from a coalition of African conservationists, who expressed that such a mass culling sets a hazardous precedent of permitting governments to exploit protected wildlife under the pretense of addressing humanitarian crises. They raised questions regarding the existence of environmental impact assessments or wildlife counts that would justify the culling plan.
The statement from conservationists also pointed out that the plan coincides with Namibia’s upcoming elections in November, speculating that the meat from the culling is aimed at appeasing regions where the ruling SWAPO party faces staunch opposition. Additionally, the initiative is anticipated to generate significant revenue through hunting licenses, all while disputing claims that Namibia is overwhelmed by elephant populations, which are estimated to number around 20,000.
In a broader context, the World Wildlife Fund reports that around 415,000 African elephants exist across the continent. While the species is classified as vulnerable, some populations are being driven toward extinction due to poaching, despite thriving herds in certain areas of southern Africa.
Source
phys.org