Latest news with #ZimbabweParksandWildlifeManagementAuthority
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Zimbabwe to cull dozens of elephants to curb population and distribute meat to communities
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The southern African country, Zimbabwe , announced on Tuesday that it will slaughter dozens of elephants to control the population size and the meat from the carcasses will be distributed among the has the world's second largest elephant population after wildlife agency, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority ZimParks ) said it has given permission to Save Valley Conservancy , a large private game reserve in the southeast, to carry out the elephant population control wildlife agency said it will first kill 50 elephants. It didn't say how many will be killed in total or how long the process will to a recent 2024 aerial survey, there are 2,550 elephants living in Save Valley Conservancy, however, the land can only support 800 elephants. Too many elephants can lead to damage to the ecosystem, including plants and other animals. The agency believes that reducing the number of elephants is necessary to protect the the past five years, at least 200 elephants have been translocated to other a statement, ZimParks said, "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."Zimbabwe can't sell the ivory tusks due to worldwide ban on ivory spokesman Tinashe Farawo told ABC News on Wednesday that the "management exercise" is "not culling," as the latter "involves wiping [out] the whole herd in huge numbers."He did not respond to a question about how many elephants will be killed in total or how long the process will year, the wildlife authorities in Zimbabwe culled 200 elephants to provide food for communities that suffered from the drought. It was the first major cull since 1988 that took place in districts such as Hwange, Mbire, Tsholotsho and move to hunt the elephants for food has drawn sharp criticism worldwide, mainly because elephants are a source of attraction to many tourists.
The South African
4 days ago
- Politics
- 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.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Zimbabwe to kill dozens of elephants and distribute meat to people
LONDON -- Zimbabwe has announced that dozens of its elephants will be killed to control the population size and the meat from the carcasses will be distributed to people. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, also known as ZimParks, said it has issued permits to Save Valley Conservancy, a large private game reserve in the southeast, "for an elephant management exercise." "The management quota is meant to address the growing elephant population in the region and will initially target 50 elephants," the agency said in a statement Tuesday. "According to the 2024 aerial survey, there are 2,550 elephants against an ecological carrying capacity of 800 elephants in Save Valley Conservancy." MORE: Study explores elephant greetings and how they change based on social relationships The reserve has translocated 200 elephants to other areas in the southern African nation over the past five years "to manage the elephant population and protect the wildlife habitat," according to ZimParks. "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," the agency added. A global ban on ivory trade bars Zimbabwe from selling its stockpile of elephant tusks. MORE: 'Double joy': Rare elephant twins born in Kenya's Samburu National Reserve ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo told ABC News on Wednesday that the "management exercise" is "not culling," as the latter "involves wiping [out] the whole herd in huge numbers." He did not respond to a question about how many elephants in total will be killed in this instance and over what period of time. ABC News has reached out to Save Valley Conservancy for comment. Zimbabwe is home to the second-largest population of elephants in the world, after neighboring Botswana. ABC News' Liezl Thom contributed to this report. Zimbabwe to kill dozens of elephants and distribute meat to people originally appeared on
5 days ago
- General
Zimbabwe to kill dozens of elephants and distribute meat to people
LONDON -- Zimbabwe has announced that dozens of its elephants will be killed to control the population size and the meat from the carcasses will be distributed to people. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, also known as ZimParks, said it has issued permits to Save Valley Conservancy, a large private game reserve in the southeast, "for an elephant management exercise." "The management quota is meant to address the growing elephant population in the region and will initially target 50 elephants," the agency said in a statement Tuesday. "According to the 2024 aerial survey, there are 2,550 elephants against an ecological carrying capacity of 800 elephants in Save Valley Conservancy." The reserve has translocated 200 elephants to other areas in the southern African nation over the past five years "to manage the elephant population and protect the wildlife habitat," according to ZimParks. "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," the agency added. A global ban on ivory trade bars Zimbabwe from selling its stockpile of elephant tusks. ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo told ABC News on Wednesday that the "management exercise" is "not culling," as the latter "involves wiping [out] the whole herd in huge numbers." He did not respond to a question about how many elephants in total will be killed in this instance and over what period of time. ABC News has reached out to Save Valley Conservancy for comment. Zimbabwe is home to the second-largest population of elephants in the world, after neighboring Botswana.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
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.
