Southern Africa Culls Elephants Amid Drought Crisis

Southern Africa is facing its worst drought in over a century, driven by the El Niño weather pattern and worsened by climate change. To address severe food shortages, countries like Zimbabwe and Namibia have initiated controversial wildlife-culling programs. Zimbabwe plans to cull 200 elephants, providing meat to communities, while Namibia will cull 723 animals, including hippos and zebras. The drought has intensified conflicts between humans and wildlife, with animals encroaching on human settlements in search of food. Although necessary for survival, the culling raises ethical concerns about balancing human needs with environmental preservation.