Zimbabwe considers elephant culling for food amid drought

Zimbabwe is considering culling elephants for the first time since 1988 as the country grapples with a devastating drought. Environment Minister Sithembiso Nyoni told lawmakers in Mount Hampden, near Harare, that discussions are underway to cull elephants and distribute the meat to drought-stricken communities in need of protein.

This move comes as Zimbabwe faces one of the worst droughts in recent decades, leaving many communities food insecure. According to Bloomberg News, the proposed cull is seen as a measure to alleviate the effects of the drought while also addressing the country’s growing elephant population, which has put a strain on limited resources.

Zimbabwe’s  consideration follows in the footsteps of Namibia, which recently announced plans to cull 723 wild animals in response to its worst drought in 100 years. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) said the culling would provide much-needed game meat to local communities affected by the drought. However, the decision has faced backlash from conservationists, who argue that the cull is politically motivated and lacks proper environmental and food security assessments.

A group of 14 conservationists, researchers, and scientists in Namibia has openly challenged the government’s plan, expressing concerns that allowing the cull to proceed could set a dangerous precedent for other African nations. They pointed to the rapid decline of African elephant populations—down from over 5 million in 1900 to just over 400,000 today—as a stark reminder of the fragility of the continent’s wildlife.

The ongoing drought has crippled Namibia’s agricultural sector, particularly in the northern and northeastern regions where crop failures have led to severe food shortages. Livestock-dependent communities in the western parts of the country have shown some resilience, but continuous droughts in recent years have left the country struggling to recover.

The debate over wildlife culling in both Zimbabwe and Namibia underscores the complex intersection of environmental conservation, food security, and political decision-making in the face of climate change and persistent drought conditions across southern Africa.