New Delhi: Drought-stricken Namibia plans to cull over 700 wild animals, including 83 elephants, and distribute the meat to people struggling to feed themselves, AfricaNews reported.
The environment ministry says the cull will take place in parks and communal areas where officials believe animal numbers exceed available grazing land and water supplies.
In addition to elephants, animals to be killed include hippos, buffalo, impalas, blue wildebeest, zebras, and eland.
#Namibia
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism @MinistryofEnvi2➡️ Update On the Culling of Wild-animals as a Result of Drought
Including
● 83 ● Elephants pic.twitter.com/CbGpVzYPPj— City’s🐘 for Elephants & Rhinos🚩 (@CitysFElephants) August 26, 2024
Notably, Southern Africa is facing its worst drought in decades and the United Nations says Namibia last month had exhausted 84 per cent of its food reserves. Nearly half of the population is expected to experience high levels of food insecurity in the months ahead.
Animal rights activists have, however, raised concerns about the culling which they say is being undertaken without an assessment of the economic or environmental impact.
They are suggesting the cull, in this election year, may be politically motivated and have started a petition calling for it to be stopped.
🔴 ✍🏼🦣 PETITION
🙏🏻PLEASE sign and share widely
🤚🏼Stop #Namibia‘s Largest Mass-Cull of #DesertElephants and Other Wildlife✍🏼https://t.co/ooeaZUlvck https://t.co/Rxfy96GbIL
— City’s🐘 for Elephants & Rhinos🚩 (@CitysFElephants) August 27, 2024
