As severe drought continues to devastate parts of Africa, several countries are turning to a controversial solution: culling hundreds of large wild animals, including elephants, to provide food for struggling communities.

According to Sky News on October 18th, Zimbabwe’s wildlife authorities have announced plans to cull 200 elephants in response to the worst drought the country has seen in 40 years. The aim is to address food shortages in drought-affected areas by distributing the elephant meat to local communities.

Culling, which is often used to control wildlife populations and protect habitats, is not new in African countries. However, this marks Zimbabwe’s first such move since 1988. Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for Zimbabwe’s National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, confirmed that hunting permits will be issued in areas such as Hwange, Mbire, Cholocho, and Chiredzi, while the authorities will also participate in culling.

Farawo explained that once permits are issued, the process will begin, and the meat from the elephants will be distributed to communities suffering from the drought. He pointed out that Zimbabwe has an estimated elephant population of 84,000, and culling 200 elephants is a minor measure. “It’s like a drop in the ocean,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s Environment Minister, Sitembiso Nyoni, announced that the national culling program was approved by parliament last week. Nyoni stated, “Zimbabwe has more elephants than we need, and our forests can support. We are following the example of Namibia, which culled elephants and distributed the meat to communities in need of protein.”

Hwange, a dry region in western Zimbabwe, currently hosts over 45,000 elephants, though the area can sustainably support only around 15,000. This population imbalance has strained local ecosystems, according to the minister.

Southern African countries, including Zimbabwe and Namibia, have been hit hard by below-average rainfall since early this year, a consequence of the El Niño weather pattern. The resulting drought is expected to leave 68 million people facing food shortages, Sky News reports.

Namibia has also taken similar action, announcing plans to cull 723 animals, including 83 elephants, to combat the country’s severe food crisis. Last month, Namibia reported that 84% of its food reserves had been depleted, leaving nearly half of its population at risk of hunger.