Namibian authorities have begun slaughtering more than 700 wild animals of various species to feed hungry residents hit by the country's worst drought in decades.
Namibian environment ministry spokesman Romeo Muyunda told reporters on Wednesday that about 160 animals had been slaughtered as part of the measure announced by the government last week, which, in addition to providing meat for thousands of people, is also aimed at easing pressure on drought-stricken livestock and grazing resources.
Professional hunters have been hired to kill 30 hippos, 83 elephants, 60 buffalo, 100 blue wildebeest, 300 zebra, 100 eland and 50 impala, he said.
Confirming that at least 157 of the 723 targeted animals were slaughtered, saving 56,875 kilograms of meat, he said, "Our goal is to conduct this operation in a sustainable manner while minimizing trauma as much as possible, and we must separate the animals that need to be hunted from those that do not."
He also stressed that "in line with the global ban on ivory trade, the authorities will store the tusks of the slaughtered elephants in government warehouses".
In response to the government's move, local animal rights group PETA sent a letter to Prime Minister Sara Kuugongelwa Amadhila urging her to "reconsider this brutal and short-sighted measure," warning that it would cause an imbalance in the ecosystem.
The World Wildlife Fund estimates that there are only 415,000 elephants left in Africa (down from 3 to 5 million in the early 20th century), while African and Asian elephants are critically endangered, with the exception of groups in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, which are considered vulnerable.
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