Namibia’s Desperate Measure: Culling Wildlife to Feed Drought-Stricken Citizens

Namibia, grappling with its most severe drought in a century, has resorted to culling over 700 wild animals, including elephants, zebras, and giraffes, to provide meat for its citizens struggling with food shortages. The country declared a national emergency in May as the drought’s impact worsened, with an estimated 1.4 million people, nearly half the population, at risk of severe food insecurity. Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism announced plans to cull 83 elephants, 30 giraffes, 60 buffaloes, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeest, and 300 zebras from national parks and community areas. The ministry assured that populations would be maintained at sustainable levels. The culling will be carried out by professional hunters and is expected to help mitigate the effects of the devastating drought on the country. It will also control the animal population in areas that have exhausted their resources, reducing pressure on water supplies. Additionally, it aims to reduce potential conflicts between humans and elephants searching for food and water, which can escalate during droughts.