Namibia has unveiled a plan to cull 723 wild animals to provide food for its citizens amid the country’s worst drought in a century.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism dated August 26, the culling will include 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeests, 300 zebras, 83 elephants, and 100 elands.
The animals will be sourced from both national parks and communal areas with manageable game populations.
The Ministry believes that reducing wildlife numbers will help mitigate the drought’s impact on conservation efforts by easing grazing pressure and improving water availability for remaining wildlife.
“This measure is crucial and aligns with our constitutional responsibility to utilize natural resources for the benefit of Namibian citizens,” the statement explained.
“It also demonstrates that wildlife conservation can yield tangible benefits, especially in these challenging times.”
The Ministry highlighted that it has previously provided meat for national, regional, and traditional events in accordance with its policies and regulations.
Namibia declared a state of emergency in May due to the worsening drought.
Between April and June 2024, approximately 1.2 million people were reported to be experiencing severe food insecurity, necessitating urgent measures to address food shortages and protect livelihoods.
The situation in Southern Africa has been exacerbated by the region’s most severe drought in decades, with the United Nations reporting that Namibia’s food reserves were 84 percent depleted as of last month.
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