HARARE – The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) said the Save Valley Conservancy in the country’s south-east was home to 2,550 elephants – well above its carrying capacity of 800.
The southern African nation has the world’s second-largest elephant population after Botswana, with more than 84,000 of the animals.
ZimParks spokesman Tinashe Farawo said meat from the culled elephants would be distributed to local communities, while ivory would be handed to the parks authority.
“The management quota is meant to address the growing elephant population in the region,” Mr Farawo said in a statement on Tuesday.
The conservancy has already moved 200 elephants to other reserves over the past five years in an attempt to manage numbers.
Second cull in two years
This follows Zimbabwe’s decision last year to cull 200 elephants during severe drought conditions – the first such action since 1988.
The announcement came a day after four people were arrested in the capital, Harare, with more than 230kg (507lb) of ivory. Zimbabwe cannot sell its ivory stockpile due to international trading bans.
Wildlife authorities say human-elephant conflict has intensified, with at least 31 people killed by wildlife this year.
“The animals are causing a lot of havoc in communities, killing people,” Mr Farawo said, citing recent elephant attacks.
Conservation concerns
The move has drawn criticism from conservationists who argue there are better ways to manage elephant populations.
Farai Maguwu, director of the Centre for Natural Resource Governance, said: “Government must have more sustainable eco-friendly methods to dealing with drought without affecting tourism.
“The elephants are more profitable alive than dead.”
However, some wildlife experts say culling is necessary for ecosystem management.
Chris Brown, chief executive of the Namibian Chamber of Environment, argues that elephants “damage ecosystems and habitats, and they have a huge impact on other species which are less iconic”.
Climate change has worsened human-wildlife conflict as elephants search for food and water in areas where people live.
Zimbabwe’s challenges reflect broader conservation issues across southern Africa. Neighbouring Namibia authorised the culling of more than 700 animals last year, including 83 elephants, to help communities affected by drought.
ZimParks did not specify whether more elephants would be culled beyond the initial 50, or over what timeframe.
The authority said it was working to find sustainable solutions for managing one of Africa’s largest elephant populations while addressing community safety.
