By Bernard Gitau
The Namibian government has initiated the culling of more than 700 wild animals in response to the country’s worst drought in decades. The move, announced last week by the Environment Ministry, is aimed at easing pressure on grazing lands and water supplies, while also providing meat for programs supporting thousands of people suffering from food shortages due to the drought.
The culling, which professional hunters are conducting, targets several species, including 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 83 elephants, 100 blue wildebeest, 100 elands, and 300 zebras.
“To date, 157 animals of different species were hunted… delivering 56,875 kilograms of meat,” a ministry statement revealed.
Namibia’s Environment Ministry spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, stated that the country is facing a critical situation due to the prolonged drought. “Most of our people who depend on subsistence farming and crop farming do not have sufficient food stock to last them until the next harvest or rainy season,” he said.
Muyunda emphasized that the culling would be carried out by contracted professional hunters and that it would take place in the wild, without putting the animals into enclosures. He also pointed out that providing game meat to the Namibian population is not a new practice. “It is not the first time we are providing game meat to Namibians, there is no question on whether it is edible, Namibians have been consuming game meat,” he said.
Criticism from Conservationists
The government’s decision has sparked criticism from wildlife conservationists and environmental advocates, who argue that the measure addresses neither the root causes of the drought nor the issue of food insecurity, while potentially disrupting wildlife breeding patterns.
“This is a tragic and short-sighted approach,” said Emmanuel Kankara, an activist with the Namibian Wildlife Conservation Trust. “Killing wild animals will not address the problem of food insecurity in this country. It will only disrupt ecosystems and endanger already vulnerable species,” he added.
Arafat Mtui, a wildlife conservationist with the Southern Tanzania Elephant Program, echoed these concerns. “The impact of this culling could be far-reaching. Wildlife plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance. Killing such a large number of animals could have serious consequences for biodiversity,” he warned.
Mtui urged the Namibian government to seek sustainable alternatives to address the drought and food crisis, cautioning against measures that may have detrimental effects on the environment and biodiversity.
Namibia Defends Culling Decision
Responding to the criticism, Muyunda stated that foreign conservation NGOs do not fully grasp the gravity of the situation on the ground. “We believe the NGOs do not understand the severity of the situation and if we do not act, there will be more fatalities. These animals are competing with humans for dwindling resources. By reducing their numbers, we can ease the pressure on people and the environment,” he said.
Muyunda also defended Namibia’s right to make its own decisions. “Namibia is a sovereign country. Those who are criticizing us have wiped out their natural resources and if they had better ideals, they would still be having them,” he asserted.
Drought Crisis Deepens
Namibia is currently experiencing its worst drought in decades, with data from the Namibia Meteorological Service indicating a 30% drop in annual rainfall over the past decade. The drought has severely impacted crop production, exacerbating food insecurity across the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform’s July 2023 Crop Prospects, Food Security, and Drought Situation Report showed a drop in total cereal production for the 2022-23 season, with just 153,000 metric tonnes harvested, down from 168,200 metric tonnes the previous season. Notably, 81% of this production came from the commercial sector, with only 19% from crop-producing regions — a 9% decrease from the previous season.
As Namibia continues to grapple with the effects of drought, the culling of wildlife remains a contentious issue, dividing opinions between the need for immediate relief and the long-term consequences for the country’s ecosystems.
