Namibia To Kill 700 Wild Animals Including Zebras, Elephants, Hippos — Here's Why
According to the CNN report, around 1.4 million people, or half the country's population, are likely to face acute food insecurity.
Namibia in southwest Africa plans to kill over 700 wild animals, including elephants, hippos and zebras, and distribute the meat to its drought-affected citizens. The country is grappling with its worst drought in a century, CNN reported.
The country's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has approved the killing of 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffaloes, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeest and 300 zebras.
The animals will be sourced from communal areas and national parks with "sustainable game numbers" such as Namib Naukluft Park, Mangetti National Park, Bwabwata National Park, Mudumu National Park and Nkasa Rupara National Park, the ministry press release said, adding, they will be killed by professional hunters.
With the drought impacting all industries, including conservation, the ministry said the decision was also aimed at reducing the negative impact of drought on the conservation of wild animals.
The initiative will reduce the number of wild animals, thereby decreasing the pressure on grazing land and on water resources.
"An arrangement has been made with the office of the Prime Minister and Meatco for the Ministry to provide game meat for the drought relief programme," the ministry said.
It said the decision was in sync with their constitutional mandate which states that natural resources are to be used for the benefit of citizens.
More than 150 animals have already been killed, providing more than 1,25,000 pounds of meat, the ministry said.
"We are happy that we can assist the country in this very difficult time and when it is absolutely needed. Not only do Namibians benefit through the meat provided for drought relief, but the ministry has over the years supplied meat for national, regional, and traditional events in line with our policies and laws," the ministry added in the release.
In May, Namibia confirmed a state of emergency as the drought worsened. According to the CNN report, around 1.4 million people, or half the country's population, are likely to face acute food insecurity.
A 48-year-old resident was killed during one such human-elephant conflict on the night of August 25.
These animal killings initiated by the ministry aim to reduce these conflicts between elephants and humans while in search of food and water. 83 elephants are to be culled from identified conflict areas and the meat will be allotted to the drought relief programme.
They said, "The provision of meat improves people's nutrition and contributes to poverty reduction. This is in addition to other ongoing economic benefits such as employment creation and income generation enhanced by conservation of wildlife species and associated sectors such as tourism.”
Namibia is a part of southern Africa and is suffering through drought driven by El Nino (a natural climate pattern which has reduced rainfall in the region).
