World Animal Protection expresses profound concern regarding the Zimbabwe’s government decision to cull 200 elephants, purportedly to alleviate food shortages and control elephant populations.

This just comes a few weeks after Namibia announced culling of Wildlife to feed her people. This trend is not helpful. We view this action as deeply troubling and counterproductive to conservation efforts that have flourished over the past four decades.

Tennyson Williams, Director for Africa at World Animal Protection said: “While we recognize the severity of the drought, killing elephants will not adequately solve the pressing food crisis. Furthermore, culling elephants does not address the root causes of the current drought.

This decision risks reigniting poaching and the illegal ivory trade, undermining the remarkable progress made in wildlife conservation. As World Animal Protection we believe that true sustainability lies in finding ways to support both the people and the planet without sacrificing one for the other.”

Elephants are invaluable as ecosystem engineers, playing a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and enhancing tourism. Their preservation is vital for the health of our environment and economy.

Considering these concerns, we call upon the government of Zimbabwe to take immediate, constructive actions by:

In the short term- halt the plan to cull elephants and collaborate with stakeholders to secure humanitarian aid for drought-affected communities.
In the long term- mobilize resources to put in place structures to ensure continuous food production such as irrigation fed agriculture rather than over relying on rains to ensure sustained food security.
Seek financial support to relocate elephants from overpopulated areas to suitable locations including other African countries that are willing to accommodate their wildlife.