Zimbabwe to cull 200 elephants – has more than they need – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

Zimbabwe plans to cull 200 elephants this year. The Parks and Wildlife Service Zimparks has already received instructions to reduce the population. – We have more elephants than we need, said the country’s environment minister in the national assembly this week. Zimbabwe has declared a state of emergency due to drought. Food shortages and a sharp increase in the elephant population are also cited as reasons for the drastic measure. The 200 animals will be shared in areas where conflicts have arisen between elephants and humans. The elephant population in Zimbabwe has grown in recent years. Photo: Philimon Bulawayo / Reuters Highly endangered species There are also plans to cull elephants in Hwange, where the country’s largest nature reserve is located. This is what Zimparks director Fulton Mangwanya says to AFP. The last time Zimparks undertook a similar operation was in 1988, over 30 years ago. With its 100,000 elephants, Zimbabwe has the second largest population in the world. Only neighboring Botswana has more. In total, it is estimated that there are 415,000 African elephants. In some places the population is considered safe and growing, while in other places the species is highly threatened and has a very high risk of extinction, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Asking for other solutions The plans to cull 200 elephants do not go down well with everyone. Zimbabwe’s Center for the Management of Natural Resources believes the authorities must find other, more sustainable and environmentally friendly methods to deal with the drought. – They risk that tourists will not come on ethical grounds. The elephants are worth more alive than when they are dead, says director Farai Maguwu. A herd of elephants on their way to Hwange National Park, where the authorities in Zimbabwe plan to cull elephants. The picture was taken in 2019. Photo: AP The animal protection organization PETA describes the measure as short-sighted, cruel and ineffective, according to The Guardian. Other animals will suffer if the elephant population is allowed to grow too large, objects Chris Brown. He is the head of the environmental protection organization “Namibian Chamber of Environment”. Drought disaster Around 68 million people are affected by drought in southern Africa, according to the Southern African Cooperation Organization (SADC). The drought disaster El Nino, combined with global warming, has led to a delayed rainy season. Villagers collect water in Mudzi, Zimbabwe. The picture was taken in July this year. Photo: Aaron Ufumeli / AP It is not only Zimbabwe that has killed animals to feed the population that is affected by drought. In late August, Namibian authorities said they would cull 83 elephants and distribute the meat to people affected by drought. In total, they plan to kill over 700 wild animals. Hundreds of elephants died in Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2023 due to drought, according to Reuters. Kamala Harris brought new energy and excitement to the election campaign, but now the progress has stopped. What will it really take for Harris to beat the popular Trump? The presenter is Eline Buvarp Aardal. Published 14.09.2024, at 10.01 Updated 14.09.2024, at 10.01



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