Namibia plans to cull 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, to provide meat for people struggling with food shortages due to a severe drought in southern Africa, Reuters reports.
The cull will occur in areas where animal populations exceed the capacity of available grazing land and water. The country plans to cull 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffalo, 50 impala, 100 blue wildebeest, 300 zebra, and 100 eland. The government argues that this measure is necessary to prevent increased human-wildlife conflicts and to use natural resources for the benefit of its citizens. Already, 157 animals have been hunted, yielding over 56,800 kilograms of meat.
Southern Africa is experiencing its worst drought in decades, having depleted 84% of its food reserves, and nearly half of its population is expected to face high levels of food insecurity.