Namibia to Cull 723 Animals Amid Drought

Namibia has announced plans to cull 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants and 300 zebras, in response to its worst drought in a century, which has left nearly half of its population—approximately 1.4 million people—facing severe food insecurity. The culling will be conducted by professional hunters in areas where animal populations exceed available resources, with the meat distributed through the government’s drought relief program. The initiative aims to alleviate human-wildlife conflicts and preserve grazing land as wildlife competes for dwindling resources. Thus far, over 150 animals have been culled, providing approximately 56,875 kilograms of meat for distribution. This action follows a United Nations report indicating that 84% of Namibia's food reserves were exhausted by July, with a significant shortfall expected. The government emphasizes that this culling is necessary under its constitutional mandate to utilize natural resources for the benefit of its citizens.