International media’s take on culling 'sensationalist'
... As Namibia battles worst drought in 100 years
The Namibian Chamber of Environment, with a membership of over 80 conservation organisations, said it opposes the spread of misinformation by the international media on the culling decision.
Namibia’s decision to cull more than 700 wildlife for drought relief is continuing to make international waves.
The environment ministry recently announced plans to cull 640 animals from five national parks, plus 83 elephants outside park boundaries where they come into contact with people.
CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), Gitta Paetzold, said it is unfortunate that international media has chosen to focus on a “sensational” angle rather than the rational basis for the decision.
She said the fact is that southern Africa faces one of its most devastating droughts, placing huge pressure on not only communities but wildlife in particular.
“Would the world look more favourably on Namibia if we allowed animals to starve to death and die of thirst, hippos facing a gruesome end as their habitat wilts away and dries up?”
'Humane decision'
Paetzold said Namibia has a commendable track record of applying its constitutional commitment of sustainable use of natural resources.
“Its wildlife numbers show steady growth, but the degradation of the country's vegetation is of growing concern.”
She said international media ignore the impact of the drought, with communal and commercial farmers suffering damages to borehole infrastructure by elephants.
“In challenging times like this, rational and humane decisions need to be taken, and that is exactly what Namibia is doing.”
Severe food insecurity
The Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE), with a membership of over 80 conservation organisations, said it does not oppose the ministry’s plan.
“Instead, NCE opposes the spreading of misinformation on this topic in the international media.”
It said the 2023/24 rainfall season was exceptionally poor, triggering Namibia's worst drought in 100 years.
Most crops in the north-eastern parts of the country have failed entirely, creating severe food insecurity in those regions, the NCE pointed out.
“The more livestock-reliant communities in the drier western parts of the country are slightly more resilient to drought than crop farmers, but this terrible season comes on the heels of many other droughts.”
The NCE said an estimated 1.4 million people in Namibia, nearly half of the population, are considered to be in a state of food crisis, according to an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report.
“By October, the situation will be even worse. Unless rains come early this year, many people will face starvation.”
Skewed reporting
NCE also noted that various international articles are filled with misinformation, emphasising that the severity of the current drought requires action, regardless of whether such action is politically expedient or not.
“All government decisions are ultimately political, but the idea that Swapo (the ruling party) could exaggerate the impacts of a 100-year record drought in time for their election is far-fetched, to say the least.”
According to the NCE, the overall wildlife population in Namibia is between 2.5 and 3 million animals, 80% of which are on fenced freehold farms.
This means each year, 300 000 to 360 000 wild animals are killed for their meat in Namibia, “with more being taken off during drought years as part of normal ecological management practices.”
These numbers, they said, put the culling of 640 game animals, excluding elephants, into perspective.
“None of these will be trophy hunted, since the aim of the operation is to supply meat to local communities and reduce local wildlife populations for ecological reasons," NCE said.
The NCE added that the elephants selected for the cull will be identified from areas outside national parks on either communal or freehold land.
In terms of numbers, taking 83 elephants from a population of 24 000 is sustainable and is being taken from human-elephant conflict hotspots, they said.
Moderate numbers
Ultimate Safaris said the planned cull should not affect the tourism experience in Namibia.
“The number of animals selected is quite moderate and this planned cull will help to prevent famine and suffering in the wildlife population while also addressing problems in the human population.”
It said there have been similar responses to situations like this in the past, but it has been shown that Namibia’s approach to conservation delivers very favourable results in terms of real conservation outcomes.
The environment ministry recently announced plans to cull 640 animals from five national parks, plus 83 elephants outside park boundaries where they come into contact with people.
CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), Gitta Paetzold, said it is unfortunate that international media has chosen to focus on a “sensational” angle rather than the rational basis for the decision.
She said the fact is that southern Africa faces one of its most devastating droughts, placing huge pressure on not only communities but wildlife in particular.
“Would the world look more favourably on Namibia if we allowed animals to starve to death and die of thirst, hippos facing a gruesome end as their habitat wilts away and dries up?”
'Humane decision'
Paetzold said Namibia has a commendable track record of applying its constitutional commitment of sustainable use of natural resources.
“Its wildlife numbers show steady growth, but the degradation of the country's vegetation is of growing concern.”
She said international media ignore the impact of the drought, with communal and commercial farmers suffering damages to borehole infrastructure by elephants.
“In challenging times like this, rational and humane decisions need to be taken, and that is exactly what Namibia is doing.”
Severe food insecurity
The Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE), with a membership of over 80 conservation organisations, said it does not oppose the ministry’s plan.
“Instead, NCE opposes the spreading of misinformation on this topic in the international media.”
It said the 2023/24 rainfall season was exceptionally poor, triggering Namibia's worst drought in 100 years.
Most crops in the north-eastern parts of the country have failed entirely, creating severe food insecurity in those regions, the NCE pointed out.
“The more livestock-reliant communities in the drier western parts of the country are slightly more resilient to drought than crop farmers, but this terrible season comes on the heels of many other droughts.”
The NCE said an estimated 1.4 million people in Namibia, nearly half of the population, are considered to be in a state of food crisis, according to an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report.
“By October, the situation will be even worse. Unless rains come early this year, many people will face starvation.”
Skewed reporting
NCE also noted that various international articles are filled with misinformation, emphasising that the severity of the current drought requires action, regardless of whether such action is politically expedient or not.
“All government decisions are ultimately political, but the idea that Swapo (the ruling party) could exaggerate the impacts of a 100-year record drought in time for their election is far-fetched, to say the least.”
According to the NCE, the overall wildlife population in Namibia is between 2.5 and 3 million animals, 80% of which are on fenced freehold farms.
This means each year, 300 000 to 360 000 wild animals are killed for their meat in Namibia, “with more being taken off during drought years as part of normal ecological management practices.”
These numbers, they said, put the culling of 640 game animals, excluding elephants, into perspective.
“None of these will be trophy hunted, since the aim of the operation is to supply meat to local communities and reduce local wildlife populations for ecological reasons," NCE said.
The NCE added that the elephants selected for the cull will be identified from areas outside national parks on either communal or freehold land.
In terms of numbers, taking 83 elephants from a population of 24 000 is sustainable and is being taken from human-elephant conflict hotspots, they said.
Moderate numbers
Ultimate Safaris said the planned cull should not affect the tourism experience in Namibia.
“The number of animals selected is quite moderate and this planned cull will help to prevent famine and suffering in the wildlife population while also addressing problems in the human population.”
It said there have been similar responses to situations like this in the past, but it has been shown that Namibia’s approach to conservation delivers very favourable results in terms of real conservation outcomes.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article