Namibia’s Plan to Cull 700 Wild Animals: Justifiable, or does it undermine the principles of wildlife conservation?

In an attempt to combat the worst drought the country has seen in a century, Namibia is considering the controversial killing of over 700 wild animals, including hippos, zebras, and elephants. Those who are severely food insecure will receive the meat from these animals. But is the price of this option too high?

The arguments

Tackling Drought and Food Insecurity

The situation in Namibia is dire. Since May, the country has been in a state of emergency due to the drought’s devastating effects, with nearly 1.4 million people facing acute food insecurity. Addressing food insecurity is one of the major reasons the Namibian government is pushing forward with the project. The government argues that culling the animals will not only provide essential meat to those in desperate need but also ease the pressure on dwindling water resources by reducing wildlife populations.

Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict

Reducing conflict between humans and wildlife is another layer to this complicated problem. Elephants, among other animals, frequently invade human communities during droughts in an attempt to find food and water, which can result in potentially hazardous interactions. The goal of culling is to stop these confrontations and protect both people and wildlife.

The Ethical Dilemma

The culling poses serious ethical issues even though it might solve some immediate issues. The debate is far from done, with over 150 animals already put down to provide over 125,000 pounds of meat to those in need. Does culling create a concerning precedent for wildlife management, or is it a legitimate solution to a serious environmental crisis?

In this high-stakes situation, Namibia is wrestling with a tough choice: balancing human survival against the moral and ecological costs of culling.

The facts

The culling of wildlife species includes 83 elephants, 300 zebras, and 30 hippos. Professional hunters will carry out the culling, which will target animals from public areas and national parks where populations are thought to be sustainable.

Those who are severely food insecure will receive the meat from the culling.

Due to the drought, Namibia declared a state of emergency in May, leaving almost 1.4 million people severely food insecure.

By reducing wildlife populations, the culling programme seeks to both alleviate hunger and lessen the strain on water resources.

Reducing conflicts between people and wildlife—especially with elephants that can invade communities during dry spells—is one of the objectives of the culling process, according to a press release by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

El Niño and the global climate catastrophe have destroyed crops in Southern Africa, especially Namibia, by causing low rainfall and high temperatures.

Meanwhile, over 125,000 pounds of meat have been produced from the slaughter of over 150 animals thus far.