50 Elephants to Be Culled in Zim to Save Ecosystem

Witness Runodada - ZimNow Reporter

ZimParks has issued permits for an elephant management exercise in Save Valley Conservancy as part of efforts to reduce overpopulation of the species in the region.

According to a statement released by ZimParks, the management initiative will initially target 50 elephants. This comes in response to findings from a 2024 aerial survey, which revealed that Save Valley Conservancy currently hosts 2,550 elephants—more than three times its ecological carrying capacity of 800.

"The management quota is meant to address the growing elephant population in the region," read the statement. "We remain committed to responsible sustainable management of wildlife resources for the benefit of present and future generations."

In recent years, the Conservancy has attempted to mitigate the crisis through relocation. Over the past five years, it has translocated 200 elephants to the Hurungwe and Sapi areas to both manage the elephant numbers and preserve local wildlife habitats.

As part of the newly approved measures, elephant meat from the exercise will be distributed to surrounding communities.

However, the ivory obtained during the operation will become State property and will be handed over to ZimParks for safekeeping.