Namibia Takes Bold Step to Feed Its People

In a move that should serve as a model for other nations struggling to balance conservation efforts with humanitarian needs, Namibia has announced plans to cull hundreds of its wildlife population to provide much-needed sustenance for its hungry citizenry. This includes killing elephants so that they can use the meat to feed its population. The decision comes on the heels of a devastating drought – the worst in over a century – leaving approximately half of the country's three million-strong populace facing severe food insecurity.

According to officials at Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, this drastic measure is simply "necessary," aligning perfectly with their constitutionally-mandated obligation "to use [their] natural resources for the benefit of Namibian citizens." In essence, the government is putting the well-being of its own people above all else, recognizing that sometimes tough decisions must be made to ensure survival.

Far from being a reckless or short-sighted approach, this initiative finds support among international experts. As Rose Mwebaza, Director of the UN Environment Programme's Africa Office, astutely observed, "well-managed, sustainable harvesting of healthy wild animal populations can be a precious source of food for communities."

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