This week, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) announced a significant initiative aimed at alleviating environmental strain in the Savé Valley Conservancy, where the elephant population has greatly surpassed the land's capacity. An aerial survey conducted in 2024 revealed that the conservancy is home to 2,550 elephants, which is more than three times its sustainable limit of 800.
In the past five years, 200 elephants have been successfully relocated to other parks; however, officials emphasise that relocation alone cannot maintain ecological balance. ZimParks stated, “This initiative focuses on managing the population to prevent ecological damage while also benefiting local communities. The meat will be distributed to residents, and the ivory will remain under state ownership.”
GPS Tracking Initiative
Zimbabwe boasts one of the largest elephant populations globally, second only to neighbouring Botswana. However, in recent years, there has been a rise in human-elephant conflicts, especially as elephants enter villages in search of food and water. This behaviour has been partly linked to climate-related changes in their habitat. To mitigate these incidents, authorities have been testing real-time GPS tracking using the EarthRanger platform. This technology allows them to monitor elephant movements and notify local communities when elephants are nearing their areas.
While the system has demonstrated potential, it is currently limited in scope due to the small number of elephants equipped with tracking collars. In 2024, Zimbabwe conducted a significant cull during a severe drought that affected both humans and wildlife. During this event, 200 elephants were culled, and the meat was distributed to local families.
A Delicate Balance
Concerns about culling have been voiced by some conservationists. According to the French newspaper Le Monde, Tennyson Williams, the Africa director at World Animal Protection, cautioned that culling could "risk reigniting poaching and the illegal ivory trade, jeopardising the significant advancements achieved in wildlife conservation." On the other hand, certain communities in Zimbabwe have shown support for the culling, citing not only the food it provides but also the safety benefits it offers.
