These countries need to kill elephants for food as drought persists. Conservationists say it’s cruel
Drought has become a big crisis in Namibia and Zimbabe. Some months back, Namibia announced that it had embarked on a cull of 723 animals to feed desperately hungry people. The next month, the other country authorised the slaughter of 200 elephants.
Both nations have stressed that they had to make the tough decision in order to alleviate the impact of the region’s fiercest drought in 100 years, reduce pressure on natural resources, and prevent conflict as animals frequently enter human settlements in search of food.
The situation facing much of the continent is dire. Crops have failed, livestock struggle to survive and nearly 70 million people are desperately seeking food. The drought has been exacerbated by the recently concluded El Nino phenomenon.
Conservationists believe culling isn’t going to solve the problem
The decision to kill animals for food has triggered a raging argument. Conservationists are deeply concerned about the governments’ authorisation to kill hundreds to their most captivating, majestic animals and believe the culling isn’t going to address the problem.
The decision to offer up some of Namibia’s elephants to trophy hunters has further raised questions about government’s motivations, reported CNN. Trophy hunters are generally tourists paying thousands of dollars to shoot animals and keep body parts as trophies.
Namibia and Zimbabe are going to use professional hunters to kill the animals. Both countries say the culls are not going to affect the animal population’s long-term survival, and instead protect the remaining animals as resources deplete due to the drought.
