Drought has been increasing in parts of southern Africa that governments say have to kill numerous of their most captivating, majestic wild animals to feed desperately hungry people.
In August, Namibia became the first country to publically announce it had studying the idea of killing 723 animals, including 83 elephants, 30 hippos and 300 zebras. The following month, Zimbabwe authorized the slaughter of 200 elephants, as per CNN.
Both governments said the culls would help alleviate the impacts of the region’s worst drought in 100 years, reduce pressure on land and water, and prevent conflict as animals push further into human settlements seeking food.
But it’s triggered a fierce argument
Conservationists have criticized the idea as cruel and short-termist, setting a dangerous precedent.
The decision to offer up some of Namibia’s elephants to trophy hunters — tourists, often from the US and Europe, who pay thousands of dollars to shoot animals and keep body parts as trophies — has further fueled opposition and raised questions about governments’ motivations.
For some supporters of the cull, however, critics misunderstand conservation at best, and are “racist” at worst — telling African countries what to do and valuing wildlife over people.
