Namibia is culling over 700 wildlife, including elephants and hippos, to provide food for citizens amidst a severe drought crisis affecting food security. The initiative aligns with government mandates to use natural resources for the benefit of the population, addressing both hunger and human-wildlife conflict exacerbated by climate change.
Namibia is currently implementing a culling program targeting over 700 wild animals, including elephants and hippos, with the primary goal of providing meat to address the escalating hunger crisis in the country. This initiative arises amidst Southern Africa’s worst drought in a century, which has left approximately 84 percent of Namibia’s food reserves depleted and has resulted in high levels of food insecurity affecting nearly half of the Namibian population of 2.5 million. The United Nations has described the dire situation as a humanitarian crisis largely overlooked by the international community. The culling measure, according to Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, is congruent with the nation’s constitutional mandate to utilize its natural resources for the benefit of its citizens. Specifically, the initiative is expected to mitigate the impact of the drought that has been exacerbated by climatic changes, including the El Nino phenomenon. With agriculture and livestock crucial for the country’s sustenance and economic stability, recent years have witnessed a series of drought emergencies that have drastically curtailed food production, leading to instances of malnutrition and child mortality. As part of this culling strategy, professional hunters and safari operators are contracted to cull specific numbers of various species in designated areas where wildlife populations are deemed sustainable. The animals to be culled include, among others, 83 elephants and 30 hippos. So far, substantial quantities of meat have been secured for government relief efforts, although precise details on the culled animals remain undisclosed.
The ongoing situation in Namibia is largely influenced by an unprecedented drought that has persisted since October 2023, significantly affecting agricultural yield and food security. The increased severity of the drought has been attributed to both natural weather patterns, such as El Nino, and anthropogenic factors contributing to climate change. As water and food resources diminish, human-wildlife conflicts have become more prevalent, with wildlife populations, particularly elephants, encroaching upon human settlements. Namibia’s government is compelled to intervene, as the survival of both its citizens and wildlife is at stake amid predictions of worsening conflicts and humanitarian crises.
In summary, Namibia’s culling initiative reflects a multifaceted approach to tackle both immediate food insecurity caused by severe drought conditions and the long-standing issue of human-wildlife conflict. While aiming to provide much-needed meat for the hungry population, the strategy also addresses ecological imbalances resulting from rising wildlife populations. However, the implementation of such measures continues to provoke debate regarding wildlife conservation ethics and the long-term implications for elephant populations.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
