Explained: Why is Namibia planning to cull elephants, zebras, and wildebeest amid drought?

Aug. 28, 2024, 1:36 p.m.

Read time estimation: 4 minutes.

  1

Namibia is grappling with one of its most severe droughts in recent history, leaving a significant portion of the population without access to food. The government has implemented a plan to cull wild animals and distribute their meat to individuals residing in the most affected regions.

The United Nations reported that the country had already depleted 84% of its food reserves last month, leading to anticipated severe food insecurity in the coming months. According to the environment ministry, the government will cull 83 elephants among a total of 723 animals residing in parks and communal areas. This will occur in areas where authorities deem animal populations to exceed available grazing land and water resources.

Advertisement “To this effect, 83 elephants from identified conflict areas will be culled, (and) meat will be allocated to the drought relief programme,” the ministry said. The country also plans to cull 30 hippos and 60 buffalo, as well as 50 impala, 100 blue wildebeest, 300 zebra and 100 eland.

What is culling?

Culling involves selecting and eliminating animals from a population to reduce their numbers by removing weaker individuals.

Professional hunters and government-contracted companies have culled 157 animals, yielding over 56,800 kilograms of meat.

Botswana lost 300 elephants to drought last year, according to its environment ministry. Pixabay “This exercise is necessary and is in line with our constitutional mandate where our natural resources are used for the benefit of Namibian citizens,” the environment ministry said.

Over 200,000 elephants are estimated to inhabit a vast conservation area spanning five southern African nations - Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, and Namibia. This region boasts one of the largest elephant populations globally.

Why is the drought a yearly occurrence in Africa?

The El Nino event of 2023-24 triggered severe drought conditions across southern Africa. The rainfall was delayed, mid-season dry periods lasted longer than usual, and temperatures reached record highs. While El Nino often brings increased heat and dryness to the region, this season witnessed exceptionally dry conditions in numerous areas.

Advertisement Last year, El Nino conditions impacted 23 out of 28 districts in Malawi. A preliminary government assessment estimated that up to two million farming households and 44 percent of the national cropping area were affected. In Zambia, one million hectares of the 2.2 million hectares planted with maize were impacted.

Villagers collect water from a makeshift borehole in Zimbabwe. AP The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs states this is the worst drought the region has experienced in a century.

Why hundreds of elephants died in Africa last year?

Southern African nations, home to the world's largest elephant population, are concerned about increasing animal deaths in the coming months due to dwindling food and water sources caused by severe drought.

Advertisement Botswana lost 300 elephants to drought last year, according to its environment ministry. Others like Zambia have also confirmed deaths of elephants in its national parks, with Minister of Environment Rodney Sikumba describing the drought as “devastating”.

“In the absence of water and food, you will see carcasses dotted around the parks.” The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) said it had received $3 million from the country’s disaster fund to boost water supply in national parks, but its director general Fulton Mangwanya said this was not enough to save wildlife.

With inputs from Reuters