According to an announcement from Zimparks, the agency that manages wildlife in Zimbabwe, the right to shoot 500 elephants will be sold to American tourists this year. The news sparked a new debate on the hunting of protected species in this country.
Zimbabwe plans to kill 500 elephants this year. This project will be the second in the country's history since the 1980s. The Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) imagined, several years ago, the possibility of selling this right to kill to tourists. North Americans love it.
On the sidelines of the hunting season which begins, and which extends until the rainy season, the country has seen a proliferation of elephants. Elephant hunting rights are sold for up to $ 70 depending on the size of the animal. Two countries in Africa can afford similar projects: Zimbabwe, but also Botswana.
The killing of elephants occurs alongside the tourist season. Most of the tourists come from the United States. The payment collected allows American hunters to take elephant tusks home as trophies. Zimparks, which also manages Zimbabwe's natural parks, would like to cash in funds quickly, the drop in the number of tourists having brought the finances of the institution to its knees, which has therefore decided to sell more rights than in 2020.
The slaughter limit allowed for over 30 years was 250 elephants. However, in order to stay afloat, Zimparks needs to cash in $ 25 million by August. According to the authority, the gains would thus ensure better living conditions for… elephants. The institution has 100 elephants under its tutelage.
When elephants are slaughtered, they are often whole family groups. According to Zimparks, the goal would be to prevent post-traumatic stress from the surviving animals. Other possible methods of population control would be translocation, sale to zoos, and contraception.
World: Zimbabwe Considers Mass Elephant Killing, First Time Since 1988 https://t.co/i5VPNcTA3O pic.twitter.com/1YuE75SZo0
- SA Breaking News (@SABreakingNews) May 5, 2021
NGOs and Zimparks, the other battle
While the number of elephants in the world declined in 2020, Zimbabwe has seen a reverse trend. The southern African nation is in the process of revising its wildlife law. Zimparks believes that the efforts of the past decades have been exemplary. Indeed, between 1965 and 1991, Zimbabwe had killed more than 50 elephants.
However, the last 30 years have seen stricter rules being established. But while the commercial killing of elephants creates stable income, some NGOs believe the activity is destructive. However, Zimparks has enjoyed three decades of success on all fronts. Zimbabwe is an example of animal population control. The country has also succeeded in combating poaching very effectively.
Nevertheless, according to the SAWCT association, there is still a great lack of transparency in Zimbabwe. The director of the NGO says that the ethics of hunting are greatly flouted. According to him, allowing tourists to go on safaris violates the rules. In addition, the concession of tusks from slaughtered animals should not be provided for by law.
According to Zimparks, nothing justifies the accusations of the NGOs. The director of the institution, Tinashe Farawo, believes that Zimparks would be "the best authority in elephant management." That's why we still have them ”.