Namibia to cull over 700 elephants, hippos and other animals for meat. Here's why

Namibia, which is facing its worst drought in 100 years, is now planning to kill more than 700 wild animals, including elephants, hippos, and zebras. Why? For their meat, which will be distributed among people struggling to meet their basic food needs.

The nation's Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism announced on Monday (Aug 26) that the list of animals being culled includes 723 animals, comprising 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 100 blue wilder beasts, 300 zebras, 83 elephants, and 100 elands.

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A state of emergency in Namibia

In May, Namibia declared a state of emergency as the impact of drought worsened. With the drought conditions, an estimated 1.4 million people in the nation are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity.

Namibia's culling programme

As per a CNN report, the animals will be sourced from national parks and communal areas with "sustainable game numbers". National Parks include Namib Naukluft Park, Mangetti National Park, Bwabwata National Park, Mudumu National Park and Nkasa Rupara National Park.

They will be killed by professional hunters and Safari Outfitters, said the ministry in its press release.

According to the press release, the elephant culling would also serve to reduce human-animal conflicts

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"Additionally, the National Conference on Human Wildlife Conflict Management in 2023 resolved, among other things, that elephant numbers need to be reduced as a measure to assist in reducing prevailing cases of human-wildlife conflict. With the severe drought situation in the country, conflicts are expected to increase if no interventions are made. To this effect, 83 elephants from identified conflict areas will be culled, meat will be allocated to the drought relief program under the Office of the Prime Minister."

Already, 157 animals of different species have been hunted in Mangetti National Park. Additionally, 20 have been hunted in Mahango, 70 in Kwando, 6 in Bufallo and 9 in Mudumo. In total, this has led to the delivery of 56,875 kg of meat.

The ministry says that along with supplying meat to the needy population, the culling will help take pressure off water resources by cutting down wildlife numbers in areas where their numbers "exceed available grazing and water."

(With inputs from agencies)