Zimbabwe Gets Ready to Cull 50 Elephants

In an effort to reduce overpopulation, the Save Valley Conservancy was authorized by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to slaughter fifty elephants. According to Tinashe Farawo, a spokesman for ZimParks, permits were granted for the elephant management exercise, confirming the development.

In 2024, an airborne scan found that the number of elephants in the Save Valley Conservancy was 2,550, far more above the 800 ecological carrying capacity. To ease the strain on the environment, 200 elephants have been moved to Hurungwe and Sapi throughout the last five years.

While the ivory would remain state property under ZimParks’ custody, the cull’s elephant meat would be given to nearby communities, according to ZimParks. Last year, in response to criticism from certain conservationists, Zimparks revealed plans to slaughter 200 elephants.