The Namibian drought, the worst in more than a decade, has forced the government to slaughter hundreds of wild animals in order to feed its starving citizens.
This week, the government reported that it planned to cull at least 640 animals from five national parks, plus 83 elephants outside park boundaries where they come into contact with people.
Writing for Conservation Namibia, Dr Chris Brown and Gail Thomson reported that the the 2023/24 drought was so severe that the plans had been met with confusion from those with little knowledge of Namibia and outrage from some within Namibia who were generally hostile to the country’s wildlife policies.
“The 2023/24 rainfall season was exceptionally poor, triggering Namibia’s worst drought in 100 years. Most crops in the north-eastern parts of the country have failed entirely, creating severe food insecurity in those regions.
“The more livestock-reliant communities in the drier western parts of the country are slightly more resilient to drought than crop farmers, but this terrible season comes on the heels of many other droughts, for example, 2022/23, 2020/21, 2019/20 and 2018/19, from which this area is yet to recover.”
Brown and Thomson said many people seem to have downplayed the effects of the drought on the lives of citizens.
“(They have) chose rather to focus on this November's national elections as the reason for the cull. All government decisions are ultimately political, but the idea that Swapo (the ruling party) could exaggerate the impacts of a 100-year record drought in time for their election is far-fetched, to say the least. Indeed, the political situation in Namibia would be more comfortable for Swapo if these were times of plenty and economic prosperity.”
They said the effects of the poor rains were the only reason the government had come to the painful and unpopular decision.
“The consequences of poor rains in the early parts of the year only start to grip later in the year as the dry season wears on. An estimated 1.4 million people in Namibia, nearly half of the national population, are considered to be in a state of food crisis in July to September 2024, according to an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report. By October, the situation will be even worse. Unless rains come early this year, many people will face starvation.”
In an update on the culling of animals, including elephants, dated, August 26, the Namibian Ministry of Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) said it has received cabinet approval for the endeavour.
“MEFT’s decision to cull 640 antelope in national parks and 83 elephants outside parks (total 723 animals) is a reasonable decision in terms of wildlife management and drought relief. In this article, we explain the necessary context that shows that culling animals is normal practice during droughts, while the timing of the cull coincides with increasing food insecurity in rural areas. Those trying to hurt Namibia’s tourism industry during this time of crisis should take a closer look at their motivations,” it said.
A resident, identified as Justa Kruger, responding to the METF’s decision on Facebook, said: “It seems that you have completely lost the plot now. Culling 15 desert adapted elephants and 723 other animals in national parks to feed the people are total insanity. What are you going to do when there is nothing left? Then for good measure the only large elephant bull left is to be trophy hunted. Has never seen such mismanagement of a country's precious wildlife. (sic)”
Saturday Star
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