Namibia is set to cull more than 700 wild animals, including elephants, zebras, and hippos, as the country faces its most severe drought in a century. The culling, announced by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, is part of a broader effort to address the acute food insecurity affecting nearly half of the population.
The planned cull includes 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffalo, 50 impala, 100 blue wildebeest, and 300 zebras. These animals will be sourced from national parks and communal areas where wildlife populations are sustainable and will be hunted by professionals. The ministry emphasized that the culling will relieve pressure on scarce water resources and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts that have escalated due to the drought.
In May, Namibia declared a state of emergency as the drought’s impacts worsened, with approximately 1.4 million people expected to face severe food shortages. The meat from the culled animals will be distributed to those most affected by hunger, particularly in rural areas where the drought’s effects are most pronounced.
To date, more than 150 animals have already been culled, providing over 125,000 pounds of meat to support the country’s drought relief efforts. The ministry expressed its commitment to helping the nation navigate this crisis, noting that the culling program is a necessary measure during these challenging times.
Namibia’s struggle is part of a broader regional crisis in Southern Africa, where countries are grappling with the devastating effects of El Niño-induced drought, exacerbated by the ongoing climate crisis. The combination of minimal rainfall and extreme temperatures has led to widespread crop failures and soaring levels of hunger across the region.