Namibia plans to kill 600 wild animals, including elephants and zebras, to distribute the meat

Namibia 🇳🇦 plans to kill about 600 wild animals in their country, including elephants, zebras, hippos, and buffalos, to distribute the meat to the people as the country struggles with its worst drought in a 100 years.

Namibia, a country located in the southwest of Africa, is facing an impactful drought caused by El Niño (a natural climate pattern). A dearth of rain and flaming heat  have led to a drought and hunger for tens of millions of people in the country. In May 2024, Namibia declared a state of emergency as the drought worsened. Now, 1.4 million people are expected to face high levels of food insecurity, and that's almost half of the country's population.

In a press release, Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced that they have planned to kill around 600 wild animals, including 83 elephants, 300 zebras, 30 hippos, 60 buffalo, 100 blue wildebeest and 50 impala. The animals will be hunted by professional hunters from national parks and communal areas with "sustainable game numbers," as explained in the press release. More than 150 animals have already been killed, and that amounts to more than 125,000 pounds of meat.

"We are happy that we can assist the country in this very difficult time and when it's absolutely needed," said the ministry.

What are the goals of this decision 🤔

The aim of the program is to reduce the impact of the drought by taking pressure off water resources by killing wildlife in areas where their numbers "exceed available grazing and water." Conflicts between elephants and humans will also be slightly reduced, as they now are brought into contact searching for food and water.

Southern Africa is home to more than 200,000 elephants, but they, too, have been severely affected by the drought - hundreds died last year as their water resources dried up.

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