Namibia has began culling of 700 wild animals in national parks as a solution to address the adverse climate situation.
While this decision has shocked part of the public, the government considers it a key measure in its plan to combat the risk of food insecurity.
The culling of hundreds of wild animals is expected to provide meat to the most vulnerable populations. The meat will be distributed to people struggling to feed themselves.
The government has also offered another explanation: reducing the number of animals should allow national parks to have more water reserves during these difficult times.
Nearly half of Namibia’s population is expected to experience high levels of food insecurity in the coming months.
With such a severe drought, human-wildlife conflicts are expected to increase if the authorities do not intervene, the country’s environment ministry said.
Alongside the elephants and hippos, Namibia also plans to cull 60 buffalo, 50 impala, 100 blue wildebeest, 300 zebra and 100 eland.
The government has contracted professional hunters who have already killed 157 animals, yielding more than 56,800 kilos of meat.
Despite the government’s justifications, the decision has not been accepted especially by the conservatists. Animal protection organizations have launched petitions to have the operation canceled.
Last May, Namibia declared a state of emergency due to the drought affecting all of southern Africa. According to the World Food Programme, about 1.4 million Namibians, nearly half of the population, are currently facing acute food insecurity.
