Zimbabwe issues permits for cull of at least 50 elephants
HARARE (Reuters) -Zimbabwe has issued permits to cull at least 50 elephants on a reserve where there are three times more elephants than the habitat can sustain, wildlife authorities said on Tuesday.
The Save Valley Conservancy in southern Zimbabwe is home to roughly 2,550 elephants, whereas it has a "carrying capacity" of 800 elephants, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said in a statement.
The conservancy already moved 200 elephants to other reserves over the past five years to try to manage its elephant population.
Meat from the cull will be distributed to local people to eat, while the ivory from the killed animals will be handed over to the parks authority.
Zimbabwe is home to one of the largest elephant populations worldwide, and climate change has worsened human-wildlife conflict as elephants encroach on areas where people live in search of food and water.
The Southern African country authorised another cull last year of about 200 elephants, the first since 1988. At the time authorities said they would distribute meat from the cull to communities affected by a severe regional drought, shortly after Namibia said it would do the same.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
4 hours ago
- Business Insider
Head of Trump's U.S.-Africa policy at the State Department set to step down
A senior U.S. official overseeing Africa policy at the State Department is expected to step down in mid-July, marking another significant transition in President Donald Trump's foreign policy team. Troy Fitrell, leading the Bureau of African Affairs, plans to step down on July 15. His tenure involved advancing U.S. diplomatic and commercial ties with Africa. The White House has not yet announced plans for a permanent replacement post-departure. Troy Fitrell, who has been leading the Bureau of African Affairs in an acting capacity, played a central role in managing U.S. diplomatic, security, and economic relations with countries across the African continent during a period of rising global competition and shifting alliances. Although it was not immediately clear why he is leaving, Troy Fitrell will leave his post on July 15, according to Reuters reports that cited sources with direct knowledge of the decision. The reports added that Troy Fitrell shared his plans to leave by that date over an email. Recently, he had tasked U.S. ambassadors on the continent to find commercial opportunities for U.S. companies. The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Troy Fitrell also did not respond to a request for comment, according to the reports. The departure comes amid a prolonged vacancy at the assistant secretary level, with no confirmed nominee in place more than a year into Trump's current term. However, it is important to note that, apart from Troy Fitrell's office at the Bureau of African Affairs, the office of President Trump's adviser on Africa affairs, led by Massad Boulos, also plays a largely informal but visible role as a diplomatic envoy focused on promoting peace and advancing U.S. private-sector investment in Africa. Troy Fitrell's Africa strategy Just a month before his expected resignation, Troy Fitrell laid out a bold and business-focused vision for U.S.-Africa relations under the Trump administration, emphasizing a pivot from aid-driven engagement to private sector-led trade and investment. During the launch of the Bureau of African Affairs' Commercial Diplomacy Strategy in Côte d'Ivoire last month, Troy Fitrell outlined a six-point plan to strengthen U.S.-Africa commercial ties. The strategy includes making commercial diplomacy a central pillar of U.S. engagement, advancing market reforms and infrastructure projects in priority African countries, and expanding commercial diplomacy trips. It also seeks to better connect U.S. companies and capital to African opportunities while reforming U.S. trade and finance tools to compete more effectively on the global stage. Under the current administration, the U.S. has sought to recalibrate its Africa policy by prioritizing counterterrorism cooperation, advancing trade initiatives such as Prosper Africa, and responding to strategic competition from global rivals.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump says he may soon hike auto tariffs to get more US production
By David Shepardson and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday warned he may soon hike auto tariffs, arguing that could prod automakers to speed U.S. investments. "I might go up with that tariff in the not too distant future," Trump said at a White House event. "The higher you go, the more likely it is they build a plant here." Automakers have been pressing the White House to reduce the 25% tariffs Trump imposed on autos. The Detroit Three automakers have criticized a deal that would cut tariffs on British car imports but not on Canada or Mexico production. Trump cited a series of recent investment announcements including GM saying this week that it plans to invest $4 billion in three U.S. plants and move some SUV production from Mexico. He also noted a $21 billion Hyundai investment announced in March including a new U.S. steel plant. "They wouldn't have invested 10 cents if we didn't have tariffs, including for manufacturing American steel, which is doing great," Trump said. Mexico said last month that cars assembled in Mexico and exported to the U.S. will face an average tariff of 15%, not 25% because Washington is giving automakers reductions for the value of U.S. content. Automakers are facing increasing cost pressures stemming from tariffs. In recent weeks, Ford Motor and Subaru of America have hiked prices on some models due to higher costs from Trump's tariffs. In May, Ford estimated tariffs would cost it about $1.5 billion in adjusted earnings. GM said last month it had a current tariff exposure of between $4 billion and $5 billion, including about $2 billion on the more affordable vehicles GM imports from South Korea, where it makes entry-level Chevrolet and Buick models. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
CCTV footage shows moment of Air India crash in Ahmedabad airport
STORY: :: This video contains content some people might find distressing :: CCTV footage captures an Air India plane crash seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport :: June 12, 2025 :: Ahmedabad, India Reuters was able to confirm the location from the buildings, road signs and layout that matched satellite imagery of the area. Reuters was able to verify the date through the on-screen timestamp that matched corroborating reports. The Boeing 787 bound for London with 242 people on board crashed seconds after taking off from India's western city of Ahmedabad earlier on Thursday. The plane came down in a residential area, crashing onto a medical college hostel outside the airport during lunch hour. More than 200 people were killed, authorities said. The passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants, a source told Reuters. Of them, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, Air India said.
