Drought forces Namibia to exterminate wild animals to feed the population

Namibia will kill at least 700 hippos, elephants, buffaloes, zebras and other wild animals to combat the severe drought that is bringing the country to its knees.The State has started culling wild animals for feed populations starving due to lack of rain, which is causing crop failures in what has been described as the most severe drought in the African country's recent history.So far they have already been more than 260 animals killed to provide meat to thousands of people and reduce pressure on grazing and water resources, already seriously compromised by drought.Altogether, professional hunters were commissioned to cull 30 hippos, 83 elephants, 60 buffaloes, 100 wildebeests and as many antelopes, 300 zebras and 50 impalas.

The slaughter of animals was announced by the Ministry of the Environment in Windhoek on Thursday 26 August, and is part of the so-called Drought relief program, intended to provide food support to the country's population.The animals to be killed, a total of 723, come from national parks and from "sustainable common areas";specifically, the Namib Naukluft Park, the Mangetti National Park, the Bwabwata National Park, the Mudumu and Nkasa National Park, and the Rupara National Park are involved.The hunt has already begun and is being conducted by professional hunters and safari outfitters commissioned by the Ministry and the reserves.So far, 157 animals of different species have been hunted in Mangetti, in the area of ​​Mahango 20, in that of Kwando 70, around Bufallo 6, and in Mudumo 9;in total they were delivered 56,875 kilograms of meat from 262 animals.

According to the Ministry, the slaughter of animals would not only serve to feed the population.«This withdrawal», claims the Ministry, «will help reduce the negative impact of drought on the conservation of wild animals», who would be addressing the consequences of water scarcity and overpopulation, as well as «reducing cases of conflict between humans and wildlife».This point applies in general to all the fauna of the country, but it is particularly relevant for elephants.Precisely for this reason, the Ministry communicates, the 83 specimens of the animal that will be killed have already been selected, and are distributed in around a dozen regions of the country.In addition to the issues of alleged support for the animal population, the Government has put its hands forward and tried to justify the massive animal slaughter campaign, anticipating possible criticisms of any kind:the note from the Ministry explains that the use of natural reserves for the population would be in line with the country's constitution, and that «the provision of meat improves people's nutrition, and contributes to poverty reduction».In short, according to Windhoek, it would bring economic benefits to the country, creating jobs and intensifying tourism.

[by Dario Lucisano]