While the world unites to protect wildlife and organizations along with governments devise plans to grow animal populations, a starkly different decision has emerged from Zimbabwe. The African nation has issued a directive to cull approximately 50 elephants. The decree isn’t limited to just killing the animals; after the culling, their meat will be distributed to local communities, and the ivory will be handed over to the government. Let’s explore the reasons behind this contentious order.
The decision to cull 50 elephants was made in Zimbabwe’s Save Valley Conservancy. Wildlife officials state that the elephant population in this private reserve has become excessively large, putting immense pressure on the ecosystem and increasing the risk of human-wildlife conflict.
According to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), the reserve currently houses around 2,550 elephants, while its ecological capacity is only 800. This severe overpopulation has necessitated the tough decision to cull the elephants. This step is deemed essential to protect both the ecosystem and the surrounding communities. After the culling, the elephant meat will be distributed among local communities.
What Happens to the Ivory?
Additionally, the ivory obtained from these animals will be handed over to the government. Due to the global ban on ivory trade, Zimbabwe is not permitted to sell its elephant tusks. In the past five years, authorities have attempted to alleviate the pressure by transferring 200 elephants to other parks, but these efforts have proven insufficient.
Zimbabwe: Home to the World’s Second-Largest Elephant Population
Zimbabwe is home to the world’s second-largest elephant population after Botswana. Recent climate changes and drought conditions have worsened the situation, forcing elephants to roam into human settlements in search of food and water. This marks the second time in recent years that Zimbabwe has resorted to culling elephants to manage these circumstances.
Previous Cullings: 200 Elephants Culling Last Year
In 2024, Zimbabwe experienced a historic drought, and during that period, permission was granted to cull 200 elephants. This was the first time such a large-scale culling had occurred since 1988. However, wildlife and tourism stakeholders argue that culling elephants could harm the country’s image and undermine its wildlife conservation efforts.
