– The country’s Wildlife management agency said
the move was aimed at reducing the high number
of animals in the park
– China had reportedly bought a total of 93
elephants by end of 2018
– The proceeds from the sales, according to the
agency, would be used on anti-poaching projects,
conservation work, research and welfare.
Zimbabwe has sold close to 100 elephants to
China and Dubai for a total N974.3 million within
the last six years.
The move, according to the country’s wildlife
agency, is aimed at reducing the high number of
elephants in the national parks.
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority
spokesman Tinashe Farawo on Wednesday, May
15, told ENCA press the animals were overcrowded
at the parks and selling some to China and Dubai
was a control measure.
“We have 84,000 elephants against a carrying
capacity of 50,000, sellng some is a way of
reducing the numbers at our parks. We believe in
sustainable use of resources, so we sell a few
elephants to take care of the rest,” said Farawo
The authority noted the high numbers of the
animals had seen some of them encroach into
human settlements, destroying crops and posing a
risk to human life.
“Close to 200 people have died in human-and-animal
conflict in the past five years, and at least 7,000
hectares of crop have been destroyed by elephants,”
said Farawo
The country reportedly airlifted 93 elephants to
China and four others to Dubai between 2012 and
2018.
Young-po Reporters 