Zimbabwe has announced plans to cull 50 elephants at the Savé Valley Conservancy due to overpopulation and pressure on natural resources.
According to government official, the meat from the culled animals will be distributed to local communities living near the reserve. Elephants are a national treasure and a key draw for tourists in Zimbabwe.
The conservation official said, “Their numbers have grown unsustainably in recent years, overwhelming the capacity of national parks and reserves. At Savé Valley Conservancy, the elephant population currently stands at more than three times the sustainable limit.”
Authorities previously attempted to manage the issue by relocating hundreds of elephants to other parks and implementing GPS tracking systems to monitor herds and alert nearby villages. Despite these efforts, overpopulation persists.
Last year, 200 elephants were killed during a severe drought that caused widespread food shortages. This year, officials say the number of elephants to be culled will remain at 50 for now.
Government representatives emphasize that the culling is a last-resort measure aimed at balancing wildlife conservation with the needs of local communities and the environment.
Africanews/Kamila