700 wild animals, including elephants and hippos, to be killed for meat in Namibia

The severe drought in Namibia is likely to leave nearly half of the human population experiencing high levels of food insecurity, the United Nations reported.

In an effort to prevent people from starving amid a severe drought in Namibia, the government will cull more than 700 wild animals for their meat.

The southwestern African country is currently facing the worst drought in 100 years. In an August report from the United Nations, officials said the humanitarian crisis in Namibia is likely to leave nearly half of the population — about 1.4 million people — experiencing high levels of food insecurity between July and September.

Namibia’s environmental ministry on Monday said it would use game meat to support the country’s drought relief program by culling 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 30 zebras, 60 buffaloes, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeest and 100 elands.

The animals are being sourced by professional hunters from national parks and communal areas in line with sustainable game numbers, the ministry said.

Culling the animals will also allow for the preservation of grazing and water areas for wildlife amid the country’s drought, officials said. As is, wild animals are forced to compete for these already limited resources.

In nearby Zimbabwe last year, at least 100 elephants died in the country’s largest national park as a result of drought in the country, The Associated Press reported.

As well as combating drought and human hunger, officials said the hunting of elephants specifically is needed to combat increasing instances of conflict between elephants and people. These conflicts can be fatal for humans, who may encounter wild elephants acting aggressively as they search for food and water.

“With the severe drought situation in the country, conflicts are expected to increase if no interventions are made,” the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism statement read.