Zimbabwe to Conduct First Elephant Cull in Decades Amid Severe Drought

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYSeptember 17, 2024 at 4:53 PM UTC

TLDR

Zimbabwe to conduct first elephant cull since 1988, targeting 200 elephants to balance ecosystem post-drought.
Decision made due to severe drought causing wildlife vulnerability to thirst and starvation.
Government emphasizes cull as a humane choice to prevent prolonged suffering and aid the thriving of remaining wildlife.

Zimbabwe will carry out its first elephant cull since 1988, targeting about 200 elephants from its herds, which total over 100,000.

The decision follows a severe drought that has left wildlife vulnerable to thirst and starvation, with the government opting for culling to maintain ecosystem balance.

"Culling elephants is a tough but humane choice," said Nick Mangwana, Secretary for Information and Publicity. He emphasized that the cull aims to prevent prolonged suffering among the animals while ensuring that the remaining wildlife thrives.

Key Takeaways

Zimbabwe, home to the second-largest elephant population in the world after Botswana, has been grappling with food shortages due to the El Nino-induced drought that withered essential crops this year. Most of its elephants are located in Hwange National Park, the nation's largest at 5,656 square miles. The country's Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is still finalizing the logistics, including permits and specific areas of focus. The cull is in line with Zimbabwe’s hunting quota under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Zimbabwe

Economy

Drought

El Nino

Elephant Culling