Namibia plans to cull 723 wild animals to feed population

Namibia plans to slaughter 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, and distribute the meat to people struggling to feed themselves due to a severe drought in southern Africa, the environment ministry said.

The culling will take place in parks and community areas where authorities believe the number of animals exceeds available pasture and water supplies, it said in a statement released Monday (26).

Southern Africa is facing its worst drought in decades, with Namibia depleting 84 percent of its food reserves last month, according to the United Nations. Almost half of Namibia’s population is expected to experience high levels of food insecurity in the coming months.

With such a severe drought, human-wildlife conflicts are expected to increase if authorities do not intervene, the Environment Ministry said.

“To this end, 83 elephants from identified conflict areas will be culled and (and) the meat will be allocated to the drought relief programme,” he said.

The country also plans to cull 30 hippos and 60 buffaloes, as well as 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeests, 300 zebras and 100 elands.

One hundred and fifty-seven animals have already been hunted by professional hunters and companies hired by the government, yielding more than 56.8 thousand kilos of meat.

“This exercise is necessary and in line with our constitutional mandate that our natural resources are used for the benefit of Namibian citizens,” the environment ministry said.

It is estimated that more than 200,000 elephants live in a conservation area spread across five southern African countries – Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola and Namibia – making the region home to one of the largest elephant populations in the world.

Hundreds of elephants died in Botswana and Zimbabwe last year due to drought.

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This content was originally published in Namibia plans to slaughter 723 wild animals to feed population on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil

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