Zimbabwe to cull 200 elephants to feed drought-stricken communities

Zimbabwe: In response to severe drought and food insecurity, Zimbabwe is set to cull 20 elephants to provide much-needed food to communities affected by the ongoing drought crisis.

This decision has sparked both support and criticism, as it highlights the complex balance between wildlife conservation and human survival in the face of environmental challenges.

The Drought Crisis in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has been grappling with prolonged droughts, which have left millions of people facing acute food shortages. Following the severe impacts of the El Nino induced drought which affected more than 80% of the country resulting in significantly below-normal harvest, the country declared the 2023-2024 agriculture season a state of national disaster at the beginning of April 2024.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), nearly 7 million Zimbabweans are in urgent need of food assistance. The combination of erratic rainfall, poor harvests, and economic challenges has exacerbated the situation, pushing many rural communities to the brink of famine.

The drought is also expected to further worsen water shortages in Zimbabwe, exposing 2.6 million people to water insecurity.

In May 2024 while declaring the drought a state disaster, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe needed at least $2bn to respond to the drought. In early June, the UN launched a $429m drought appeal for Zimbabwe.

In regions like Matabeleland, where rainfall has been scarce, crops have withered, and livestock deaths have soared, leaving communities desperate for sustenance. In response, the government has turned to a controversial measure—culling elephants from its overpopulated herds to feed those in need.

Controversy Amidst Crisis

Zimbabwe’s decision to cull 20 elephants is not unprecedented but remains controversial. Authorities argue that the country’s elephant population, estimated at over 100,000, is more than double the national carrying capacity. This overpopulation has resulted in human-wildlife conflict, with elephants often raiding farms, destroying crops, and even causing fatalities in rural areas.

The government, therefore, sees the culling as a win-win solution: reducing the elephant population to ease pressure on the environment while providing much-needed protein to communities struggling with hunger. The meat from the culled elephants, according to government officials,  will be distributed to areas hardest hit by the drought, offering a temporary respite from the ongoing food crisis.

“The situation is dire, and we have to make tough decisions,” said an official from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks). “We have too many elephants, and they are also suffering from the effects of the drought. By culling, we can reduce the burden on the ecosystem and help feed people in desperate need.”

Wildlife Conservation Concerns

The culling of elephants has drawn criticism from wildlife conservation groups, both within Zimbabwe and internationally. Conservationists argue that elephants are a keystone species, playing a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance in the savanna.

Elephants help shape the landscape, create water holes, and disperse seeds, all of which benefit a wide range of species.

Conservationists warn that reducing the elephant population could have long-term ecological impacts, potentially disrupting entire ecosystems. Moreover, they argue that culling should not be used as a quick fix to address food shortages, which are rooted in broader socio-economic and environmental issues.

Conservation groups have called for alternative measures, such as strengthening wildlife corridors to reduce human-elephant conflict, promoting eco-tourism as a source of income for local communities, and investing in long-term agricultural solutions to mitigate the effects of drought.

While the culling of elephants may offer short-term relief, it is clear that the root causes of food insecurity and environmental degradation in Zimbabwe need to be addressed. Climate change, deforestation, and poor agricultural practices are contributing to the increased frequency and severity of droughts. Zimbabwe, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is at the forefront of the climate crisis, with rural communities bearing the brunt of its impact.

Efforts to build climate resilience must focus on sustainable agricultural practices, water management, and the preservation of ecosystems that are critical to both wildlife and human survival. Long-term strategies that include reforestation, better land-use planning, and investment in renewable energy could help mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce the need for extreme measures like elephant culling in the future.

Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia are among the countries in Southern Africa most affected by malnutrition caused by drought.