By John Cassim

The country has not culled elephants in decades due to conservation challenges and international trade restrictions, resulting in a significant ivory stockpile. During a parliamentary response on Wednesday, the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Sithembiso Nyoni, indicated that culling elephants could be considered to provide food for the population and mitigate the negative impacts of human-elephant interactions.

“Zimbabwe has more elephants than we need” and more than its forests can support. Discussions are under way about culling some elephants and providing the dried meat “to some communities that need the protein,” Minister Nyoni said.

Zimbabwe is the world's second largest population of elephants after neighbouring Botswana. Government officials say the country now has more than 80 000, yet the habitat can only carry up to 55 000 elephants. This has resulted in an increase of human wildlife conflict leading to the death of several people in the country.  

“We can cull the elephants and mobilize the women to dry the meat, package it and ensure that it gets to some communities that need the protein,” Minister Nyoni said.  

Minister Nyoni added that the government is very concerned about this and its impact on people who may be going out to fetch firewood or water, not aware of these animals coming into their terrain.

--ChannelAfrica--