Zimbabwe has issued permits for the culling of elephants in the Save Valley Conservancy, where the population has surged to more than three times the area’s ecological carrying capacity, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) said on Tuesday.
The initial culling operation will target 50 elephants. The move is part of an elephant management programme aimed at addressing overpopulation and its impact on the environment.
“The management quota is meant to address the growing elephant population in the region and will initially target 50 elephants,”said ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo.
A 2024 aerial survey revealed that 2,550 elephants inhabit the conservancy, far above its estimated sustainable capacity of 800 elephants.
“In the past five years, 200 elephants were translocated to other protected areas, but the population continues to rise,” Farawo said.
Meat from the culled elephants will be distributed to local communities, while ivory will remain state property and be held in ZimParks custody.
“Elephant meat from the management exercise will be distributed to local communities while ivory will be State property that will be handed over to the ZimParks for safekeeping.”
Zimbabwe has previously defended elephant culling and ivory stockpiling as necessary tools for wildlife management, particularly amid funding shortages.
Conservationists have previously raised ethical concerns over the practice.ZimParks however emphasized its commitment to “responsible sustainable management of wildlife resources for the benefit of present and future generations.”
