Namibia plans to kill more than 700 wild animals, including elephants, zebras and hippos, and distribute the meat to food-insecure people as the country grapples with its worst drought in 100 years.
The animals to be shot include 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffalo, 50 impala, 100 blue wildebeest and 300 zebras, the country’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced on Monday.
They will come from national parks and communal areas with a “sustainable wildlife population” and will be killed by professional hunters, the ministry said in a report. press release.
The aim of the programme is to alleviate the effects of drought in the South-West African country, the ministry said.
Namibia state of emergency declared in May, as the effects of the drought worsened. An estimated 1.4 million people — about half the population — are expected to be affected high levels of acute food insecurity.
The culling program will reduce pressure on water resources by reducing the number of wild animals in areas where their numbers “exceed available pasture and water,” the ministry said.
The aim is also to reduce the risk of conflict between elephants and humans, which can increase during droughts when animals may come into contact with humans in search of food and water.
“To this end, 83 elephants from identified conflict areas will be shot and meat will be allocated to the drought relief programme,” the ministry said.
Southern Africa is a stronghold for elephants, home to more than 200,000These animals have also been negatively affected by the drought, with hundreds believed dead in the region last year because their water sources dried up.
According to the ministry, meat from other animals that are going to be slaughtered will also be distributed to people who are struggling with hunger. The ministry indicated that people living in rural areas are particularly affected.
According to the ministry, more than 150 animals have already been killed, amounting to more than 57,000 kilos of meat.
“We are pleased to be able to help the country at this very difficult time and when it is absolutely needed,” the report said.
Namibia is one of a number of countries in southern Africa facing devastating drought caused by El Niño – a natural climate pattern that has led to severely reduced rainfall in the region – and worsened due to the man-made climate crisis.
A lack of rainfall combined with scorching temperatures have led to shriveled harvests and rising famine among tens of millions of people in the region.
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