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Namibia Intends to Cull Hundreds of its Wild Animals for Food.

Namibia plans to kill 723 animals, including hippopotamuses, buffaloes, impalas, blue wildebeests, zebras, elephants, and elands, to provide meat for its 1.4 million people, who are facing a hunger crisis due to severe drought affecting the region. This measure will ensure food for the people and avoid dangerous encounters between humans and wildlife as both seek water and vegetation. Over 157 animals have already been killed and provided 63 tonnes of meat as food for the people.

 

A United Nations spokesperson noted last week that 84% of Namibia’s food resources are already exhausted. The country’s Ministry of Environment, forestry and Tourism said in a press statement issued on  August 26 that “This exercise is necessary and in line with the constitutional mandate to use where our natural resources are used for the benefit of Namibian citizens”

 

Namibia, officially known as the Republic of Namibia is located in Southern Africa. The country is drought-prone and recognised as the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa. It has also witnessed this kind of situation in 2013,2016 and 2019, however, the ongoing drought is devastating as their staple crops such as maize have withered, livestock perished and the country’s 84 per cent food reserves have been exhausted. Due to limited food resources available, prices increased significantly curtailing access to food for a large number of people.

As per the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA) – severe acute malnutrition among Children under five has increased and there are also reports of deaths in some areas. 

 

Apart from getting meat for the people by culling wild animals, the government also wants to ensure that  Wild animal and Human interactions should be limited as drought can force animals to migrate in search of food and water . Professional hunters will be employed for the task and meat will be distributed to drought-impacted people.

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