Zimbabwe is undergoing a double crisis because it is experiencing extreme drought and its environment is out of balance. While generating international discussion, ZimParks has given the green light to kill dozens of elephants as a way to deal with problems related to the environment, little food, and conflicts between humans and animals.
/*Overpopulation pressures on wildlife habitats*/
Save Valley Conservancy has been reported by wildlife officials to currently safeguard around 2,550 elephants, far exceeding the place’s comfort level of about 800 animals. Because of the overpopulation, a lot of trees have been moved and a major portion of the vegetation has disappeared. Even though almost 200 elephants have been moved to other areas within the last five years, this situation continues to present difficulty. Culling birds is justified as a last way to maintain balance in the ecosystem.
/*Human‑wildlife conflict and community survival*/
Because there are fewer resources, elephants are moving to villages, causing some crops to be damaged and some residents to be injured or killed. Because of the severe drought, Zimbabwe is facing a major food shortage. The result has been proposals to feed vulnerable people with elephant meat by the authorities. Authorities state that the initiative will assist in controlling the elephant population and assist families who do not have enough food by giving them meat from the culled animals
/*Roles of meat and ivory in conservation and welfare*/
The culling project ensures that elephant meat will be given locally, but ivory tusks will be sent to ZimParks following international rules against ivory trade. Zimbabwe has previously culled elephants for community interest; in 2024 during the drought, a similar operation where about 200 elephants were culled was recorded—which was the nation’s first major cull since 1988. It is considered better for Zimbabwe to have controlled game culling than the unregulated poaching, because the latter puts more harm to its ecosystems and the tourism sector.
/*Criticism, long‑term concerns, and international outlook*/
Many conservations and wildlife tourism supporters have raised strong complaints about the culling plan. It is claimed that no matter how many culls are done, hunger will likely continue and the loss of wildlife could reduce Zimbabwe’s popularity as a tourist destination. They also mention that selecting this approach can encourage more illegal ivory trade and poaching unless there are solid long-term solutions such as improved irrigation, international help, or moving the wildlife.