Zimbabwe to cull elephants and distribute meat to people
HARARE - Zimbabwe will cull dozens of elephants and distribute the meat for consumption to ease the ballooning population of the animals, its wildlife authority said Tuesday.
The southern African country is home to the second-biggest elephant population in the world after Botswana.
The cull at a vast private game reserve in the southeast would initially target 50 elephants, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) said in a statement.
It did not say how many of the animals would be killed in total or over what period.
An aerial survey in 2024 showed the reserve, the Save Valley Conservancy, had 2,550 elephants, more than triple its carrying capacity of 800, ZimParks said.
At least 200 have been translocated to other parks over the past five years.
"Elephant meat from the management exercise will be distributed to local communities while ivory will be state property that will be handed over to the ZimParks for safekeeping," it said.
Zimbabwe is unable to sell its stockpile of tusks due to a global ban on ivory trading.
Tuesday's announcement came a day after four people were arrested in the capital, Harare with more than 230 kilogrammes (500 pounds) of ivory for which they were allegedly seeking a buyer.
In 2024, Zimbabwe culled 200 elephants as it faced an unprecedented drought that led to food shortages. It was the first major cull since 1988.
The move to hunt the elephants for food has drawn sharp criticism, particularly as the animals are a major tourism draw.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Why innovative financing is critical to closing Africa's infrastructure gap now
Kopano Mohlala 5 June 2025 | 9:53 Acclaimed journalist Crystal Orderson, who specialises in economic and political affairs concerning the African continent, joins 702's Bongani Bingwa to discuss Africa's infrastructure challenges and opportunities. Listen Below: "The infrastructure deficit is massive." Crystal Orderson, Journalist The African Development Bank estimates that the continent needs between $130 billion and $170 billion annually to close this gap. However, Orderson notes that there are pockets of investment in various sectors, including minerals and metals, transport, logistics, water and sanitation, and digital infrastructure, but this is country-specific. 'This is, of course, driven by specific population growth, urbanisation, and energy needs, but those are in specific countries.' - Crystal Orderson, Journalist One promising yet underutilised source of funding is African pension funds. Financing fund managers indicate that these funds hold tremendous potential. In 2020, African pension funds managed approximately $500 billion in assets, with projections suggesting this could grow to R7.5 trillion by 2025. Yet, less than 3% of these assets are allocated to infrastructure. 'There needs to be a confidence vault that these pension funds should invest in infrastructure, because that's where the growth could lie for countries.' - Crystal Orderson, Journalist Much of this capital remains tied up in low-risk government bonds or foreign markets, primarily because of a lack of domestic investment confidence. Nonetheless, there are positive examples. In South Africa, the Government Employees Pension Fund has allocated funds for infrastructure, and in Kenya, the Retirement Benefits Authority has committed nearly 10% of its portfolio to infrastructure development. There are two key investors in major projects across the continent: The African Infrastructure Managers Fund invests in northern, eastern, western, and southern Africa, having garnered assets worth approximately $3.2 billion, with a focus on specific infrastructure projects across the continent. The African Development Bank, which has been investing in Africa's agricultural sector, announced that $ 500 million has been invested in small-scale farmers and agribusiness. Another success story is Ethiopia's thriving coffee sector, which reached $2 billion in exports in just 10 months. 'Over a third of women are actually part of the coffee industry and make up 75% of the labour sector.' - Crystal Orderson, Journalist With support, Ethiopia's government has been able to successfully invest in the country's small-scale farming activities. One of the most compelling examples of successful infrastructure financing is the 480-kilometre railway line connecting Nairobi to Mombasa in Kenya. The Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway was completed in 2017, and the project was financed through a combination of public-private partnerships and international funding sources. Orderson recalls how, in the past, a trip between these two major cities entailed a 12-hour journey along potholed roads and through traffic jams. Today, the railway not only transports over 30,000 passengers daily but also efficiently manages large volumes of cargo through Kenya's ports. 'It's quite interesting because you had funding coming together, and it has been a game-changer. Now you can take a ride in the morning and arrive in Mombasa at the beach during lunchtime.' - Crystal Orderson, Journalist She says Africa has the capital - but what it needs is confidence. "It takes political will - with the private sector and multilateral institutions to come together to make a difference." - Crystal Orderson, Journalist With the right partnerships, creativity, a suitable environment, and innovative thinking, pension funds can be effectively utilised to finance large-scale infrastructure projects. That includes attracting private capital through blended financing structures and public-private, which are crucial to bridging the gap. Catch up on episodes of the RMB Africa Focus that you may have missed here.
The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
Elephant overpopulation prompts culling plan in Zimbabwe
Overpopulation threatens the ecosystem at one of Zimbabwe's largest private game reserves, prompting Zimbabwean wildlife authorities to announce plans to cull up to 50 elephants. ADVERTISEMENT The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) confirmed the plan this week, saying it is a response to unsustainable elephant numbers at Save Valley Conservancy. Zimbabwe to Cull Dozens of Elephants ZimParks said it had granted permits for what it described as an 'elephant management exercise.' According to the agency, Save Valley currently hosts around 2 550 elephants, more than three times its ecological carrying capacity of 800. 'The management quota is meant to address the growing elephant population in the region and will initially target 50 elephants,' ZimParks said. Over the past years, the conservancy has relocated about 200 elephants to other parts of the country in an attempt to ease pressure on local habitats. However, with the numbers continuing to rise, authorities believe the decision will protect the broader ecosystem. How will the communities benefit? As part of the controversial exercise, authorities will distribute the meat from the culled elephants to nearby communities. The government will keep the ivory from the carcasses, and ZimParks will store it. ADVERTISEMENT Zimbabwe is currently barred from selling its ivory due to a global ban on the trade of elephant tusks. Mixed reactions to the decision The move may be welcomed by some residents who will benefit from the meat. However, it is likely to attract criticism from conservation groups and animal rights advocates. Some have taken to social media to express their views about the development. Here is how they have reacted: @CWitvrouwen: 'Justice for Elephants, Justice for People: Rethinking Conservation in Zimbabwe…This isn't just flawed policy—it's a symptom of a broken, unjust system.' @Mike4liberty: 'I suppose if people care enough, they could donate money to fund the relocation of some of them.' ADVERTISEMENT @sluggish477951: 'What solution would you give when you have too many elephants that you can't keep and feed ? Culling is a solution, something people with too many animals would do.' Do you think culling elephants is a necessary conservation tool? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
5 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Republic of Congo's dollar bond slides after Trump travel ban
The Republic of Congo's international bond dropped in early trade on Thursday after the country was included in a list whose citizens are banned from travelling to the US. The bond, which matures in 2029, fell by 2.5 cents on the dollar to bid at $83.50, Tradeweb data showed. US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning the citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States, citing threats. Seven of the countries are African.
