In a move to combat acute hunger fueled by a severe drought, Zimbabwe has approved a mass culling of elephants, with the aim of culling 200 of these majestic creatures. The decision follows a similar move by Namibia, where elephants and other wild animals have been culled to address food insecurity caused by the prolonged drought.

According to Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, nearly half of Zimbabwe's population is facing the risk of acute hunger. He stated in an interview with CNN that the country is targeting the culling of 200 elephants in an effort to provide much-needed sustenance for its citizens.

Zimbabwe boasts a substantial elephant population of over 84,000, surpassing its capacity of 45,000 elephants, as stated by Farawo. With the second-largest elephant population in the world, Zimbabwe's elephant numbers only trail behind Botswana.

Environmental Minister Sithembiso Nyoni highlighted the overpopulation of elephants as a significant factor leading to the lack of resources for wildlife sustenance, resulting in human-wildlife conflicts in the country. Nyoni explained that the government is exploring a similar approach to Namibia, counting the elephants and mobilizing communities to process and distribute the meat to areas in need of protein.

The recent elephant culls in Namibia have drawn criticism from animal rights activists and conservationists. Farai Maguwu, who leads the Zimbabwe-based advocacy group, the Center for Natural Resource Governance, called for a halt to the culling, emphasizing the right of elephants to exist and future generations' right to observe them in their natural habitat.

Keith Lindsay, a conservation biologist and natural resources consultant, expressed concern about the potential demand for bushmeat that could arise from using wildlife to address food insecurity, deeming it unsustainable.

Farawo, on the other hand, explained that Zimbabwe's decision to cull elephants was driven by a need to reduce conflicts between elephants and humans. He reported incidents of elephant attacks resulting in human casualties, stating that the animals were causing havoc in communities. At least 31 people have lost their lives this year in Zimbabwe due to human-wildlife conflicts.

Zimbabwe and Namibia are among the many countries in southern Africa suffering from a devastating drought, exacerbated by the El Niño climate pattern and worsened by the impacts of climate change.

The necessary paperwork for the elephant culling is currently being processed by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, and Farawo anticipates beginning the culling as soon as possible, targeting areas with a high elephant population.

As the debate surrounding elephant culling continues, the welfare of the animals and the needs of the population affected by food insecurity remain at the forefront of discussions. The balancing act between wildlife conservation and meeting the immediate needs of Zimbabwe's hungry citizens presents a complex challenge for the country's authorities.