Zimbabwe kills 200 elephants for food.

The elephant hunt will take place in areas that have experienced conflict with humans, including Hwange, home to Zimbabwe's largest wildlife reserve.

Elephants in Zimbabwe. Photo: IFAW

According to Euronews, Zimbabwe will allow the slaughter of 200 elephants for the first time since 1988 amid concerns about food shortages following an unprecedented drought. The elephant hunt will take place in areas already experiencing conflict with humans, including Hwange, home to Zimbabwe's largest wildlife reserve.

Zimbabwe's Environment Minister said the Southern African nation "has more elephants than it needs" at a parliamentary hearing last week.

Drawing on the experience of neighboring Namibia, where elephants were previously slaughtered for human consumption, officials plan to dry, package, and ship the meat to communities facing food shortages. The World Food Programme (WFP) says Zimbabwe is suffering its worst drought in over 40 years, meaning there is little food in many areas due to withered crops and poor harvests.

Zimbabwe is home to approximately 100,000 elephants, the second-largest population in the world after Botswana. Some experts and animal rights activists believe that the culling of elephants could negatively impact the country's image and discourage tourists from visiting Zimbabwe.

The World Wildlife Fund estimates that there are only about 415,000 elephants left in Africa, down from 3 to 5 million at the beginning of the 20th century. Asian and African elephants are considered endangered, with the exception of populations in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, where they are classified as “vulnerable”.

HUY QUOC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/zimbabwe-giet-200-con-voi-de-lay-thuc-an-post759017.html