Nation will slaughter 700 elephants, hippos, zebras and other animals due to drought

The plains in southwestern Africa are dry, quiet, and tense. In Namibia, a severe drought is making everything uncertain. The situation is so serious that the government has announced that more than 700 wild animals will be killed to provide meat for communities facing desperate times. 

The drought is the worst in a century, and officials see no other choice. They say this step might relieve pressure on local resources at a time when close to half the country’s population is struggling with extreme food shortages.

Empty stomachs, dry lands

Namibia’s varied landscapes and wildlife have long drawn admiration, but now these lands cannot offer enough water or nourishment.

People have watched crops wither and pastures turn to dust. They are facing a level of food insecurity that has rattled daily life. 

The government is under immense pressure to act. It has chosen a path that many find disturbing: sacrificing wildlife to keep citizens alive.

Dr. Jennifer Davis, a wildlife ecologist with Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, has spent years studying these environments and says the current landscape is unrecognizable from what it was just a few years ago.

Cuts that hurt everyone

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in Namibia says that among the more than 700 animals to be slaughtered are 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffalo, 50 impala, 100 blue wildebeest, and 300 zebras. 

Officials indicate these animals will be taken from national parks and communal lands where their numbers have grown beyond what the parched surroundings can sustain. 

The government believes that by supplying meat to hungry families, it might ease tension, reduce competition for scarce water, and lower the risk of animals encroaching into villages. Officials claim that this action will help stabilize the region, at least for now.

Dry seasons and tough choices

The drought in Namibia is no passing inconvenience. It is linked to patterns influenced by El Niño and the larger climate crisis.

The rainfall has been almost nonexistent, and the heat is relentless. Farmlands have not simply struggled; they have failed to produce what was expected. 

Across Namibia, the fields are empty. The global climate conversation often focuses on long-term impacts, but here the consequences are immediate. 

Those with empty stomachs are pushing the government to do something drastic. Officials say their move might be the only way to prevent an even worse humanitarian disaster.

Emergency measures under pressure

In May 2024, the government declared a state of emergency. Officials say that wildlife cannot survive if they are competing for resources that barely exist. They see cutting down these populations as a means to help both animals and humans. 

Some say that if fewer large mammals roam the countryside, there will be less pressure on rivers and watering holes.

It might also prevent elephants from wandering into human settlements, where damage and danger are inevitable. The government admits that these problems are piling up, and there seems to be no simple remedy.

Following an unsettling pattern

Namibia is not the only country in the region to consider such actions. Botswana allowed elephant hunting in 2019, claiming it would control population growth and reduce conflicts with farmers. 

Zimbabwe has also relied on regulated hunting to generate funds for conservation and to minimize animal-human tensions. Critics call these steps a short-term fix that could have long-term consequences. 

Supporters insist that these are the only practical responses to a crisis that no one seems able to stop. People continue to argue about the ethics, while governments juggle immediate needs against future consequences.

Meat for the people at the expense of animals

Namibia has a history of using game meat for large community gatherings. This time, the effort is more direct. The government says that since the measure began, more than 150 animals have been killed, providing approximately 56,875 kilograms of meat to rural areas that need it most. 

Officials say this immediate supply of food may bring some relief to people who have seen very little on their plates. The numbers speak to an attempt to offset the losses that ordinary households endure. Yet no one pretends it is a perfect solution.

Weighing survival against survival

Those who watch Namibia from afar often see wide-open landscapes, healthy wildlife, and proud communities. These images do not reflect the stress that the current drought has caused. 

Wildlife experts and environmental advocates are worried that removing large numbers of animals will leave a mark on the country’s ecology. Others say that when people are hungry, what else can be done? 

The tension between protecting wildlife and feeding people has become a harsh reality. No one is celebrating this choice. The idea of killing some animals to help others survive is unsettling but, in these conditions, nothing is simple.

An uncertain future for these animals

The drought still holds Namibia in its grip, and many wonder how long it will last. Critics fear that these killings are a short-sighted fix. 

Supporters believe it might be one of the few ways to handle a terrible situation. The rest of the world watches, curious or horrified, as Namibia tries to find balance in an unforgiving environment. 

Officials insist that this step might bring a measure of relief. Still, the question lingers: what happens if the rains do not return soon, and what will this mean for both people and the wildlife that has defined these landscapes for so long?

Details of the animals to be killed are reported in this release from the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

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