By: Kobina Baidoo
Namibia’s environment ministry has targeted over 700 wild animals, including 83 elephants to be culled and with meat distributed to people struggling to feed themselves on account of a severe food across the region.
Authorities of the Southern African country in a recently released statement have selected a number of parks and communal areas believed to have animal numbers exceeding available grazing land and water supplies.
Namibia alone, according to a report issued last month by the United Nations has exhausted 84% of its food reserves as the rest of Southern Africa plunges into what is described as the worst drought in decades. Nearly half of Namibia’s population is expected to experience high levels of food insecurity in the coming months.
The environment ministry amid this severe drought hints at imminent human-wildlife conflicts if swift action is not taken by authorities. “To this effect, 83 elephants from identified conflict areas will be culled, (and) meat will be allocated to the drought relief programme,” the ministry said.