Zimbabwe will cull 200 elephants this year. The reason is the severe drought that prevails in the country and has caused food shortages. Furthermore, the country claims that the culling is necessary to control a significant increase in the population.
This is the first time since 1988 that Zimbabwe has culled elephants.
There are around 100,000 elephants in Zimbabwe, the second-largest population in a single country, after Botswana. However, culling animals to feed the population is met with criticism for being a short-term solution that can cause problems in the long run.
They risk scaring off tourists. Elephants are more valuable alive than dead, says Farai Maguwu of a local organization for conservation of natural resources.
The government must try to find more environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions to address the drought without affecting tourism.
Neighboring country Namibia will also cull elephants this year, 83 of them. A total of over 700 animals will be culled, also due to the drought.
