Namibia is facing a severe drought that has caused significant hardships, leaving around 1.4 million people struggling with food shortages. To address this crisis, the Namibian government is considering a drastic and controversial measure: culling over 700 wild animals, including elephants and zebras. Specifically, the plan involves the killing of 723 wild animals, 83 of which are elephants, to alleviate the hunger crisis.
The government has defended this action as necessary to fulfil its constitutional duty to use natural resources for the welfare of its citizens. This strategy, outlined by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, was reported by the New York Times. Rose Mwebaza, Director of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Africa Office, remarked that the well-managed and sustainable harvesting of healthy wild animal populations can provide valuable food resources for communities.
This viewpoint underscores the broader idea that responsible wildlife management can help meet human needs during crises. Southern Africa, including Namibia, is currently dealing with a severe drought that is impacting over 30 million people, according to a June report by the U.N. World Food Program.
Although droughts are common in this region, this year’s situation is particularly severe due to the effects of El Niño, which brings warmer and drier conditions. Benjamin Suarato from the U.S. Agency for International Development highlighted that the current drought is especially dire, with some areas receiving less than half their usual rainfall, marking record lows.
The extreme water shortage has devastated Namibia’s staple crops and livestock, forcing the country to turn to wild animals as a food source. The culling plan includes not only elephants but also 300 zebras, 30 hippos, 50 impalas, 60 buffaloes, 100 blue wildebeests, and 100 elands.
Along with addressing food shortages, this measure seeks to minimize the risk of dangerous encounters between humans and wildlife, which are expected to rise as both compete for scarce resources.
This extreme approach highlights the wider effects of climate change and environmental pressures on both human and wildlife populations, showcasing the complex challenges of managing natural resources during crises.
