Namibia plans to cull 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, and distribute their meat to people facing food shortages due to severe drought in southern Africa, the country’s Ministry of Environment announced.
The culling will take place in national parks and communal areas, where authorities believe the number of animals has exceeded available water and grazing resources, the Namibian ministry quoted by Reuters said.
South Africa is facing its worst drought in decades, and Namibia had already depleted 84% of its food reserves last month, according to the United Nations (UN).
Almost half of Namibia's population is expected to face high levels of food insecurity in the coming months.
Due to the severe drought, conflicts between humans and animals are expected to escalate if authorities do not intervene, the Namibian Ministry of Environment added.
"For this purpose, 83 elephants from conflict-identified areas will be culled, and their meat will be allocated to the drought relief program," ministry representatives conveyed.
Namibia also plans to cull 30 hippos and 60 buffaloes, as well as 50 impala antelopes, 100 wildebeests, 300 zebras, and 100 eland antelopes.
157 animals have already been shot by professional hunters and companies hired by the government, providing over 56,800 kilograms of meat.
"This action is necessary and in line with our constitutional mandate whereby natural resources are used for the benefit of Namibian citizens," the Ministry of Environment in this country stated.
According to estimates, over 200,000 elephants live in a conservation area that includes territories from five countries in southern Africa - Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, and Namibia - making that region home to one of the largest elephant populations in the world.
Hundreds of elephants have died in Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2023 due to drought.