Namibia Plans to Cull 83 Elephants and Distribute Their Meat to Drought-Affected Communities

The Ministry of Environment announced that it plans to cull 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, and distribute the meat to people struggling to feed themselves due to severe drought in southern Africa.

In a statement released on Monday, the ministry said the culling will take place in parks and shared areas where authorities believe the animal populations exceed the available grazing land and water supplies.

Southern Africa is facing its worst drought in decades, with Namibia depleting 84% of its food reserves last month, according to the United Nations.Almost half of Namibia’s population is likely Here’s a more human-friendly version:

“We may face significant food shortages in the coming months.”
The Ministry of Environment said that with such severe drought, conflicts between humans and wildlife are expected to increase if authorities do not intervene.

“To address the issue, 83 elephants from conflict zones will be culled, and their meat will be provided to support the drought relief program,” the statement said.

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

A total of 157 animals have already been hunted by professional hunters and companies contracted by the government, resulting in more than 56,800 kilograms of meat.

The Ministry of Environment stated, “This action is necessary and aligns with our constitutional mandate to use our natural resources for the benefit of Namibian citizens.”

It is estimated that over 200,000 elephants live in a protected area spanning 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.