The kill list comprises 723 animals in all, including 30 hippopotamuses, 60 buffaloes, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeest, 300 zebras, 83 elephants, and 100 elands, a kind of antelope.
This will help the 1.4 million people who live there—nearly half the country's population—who are suffering from the worst drought in a century.
Approximately 63 tons of meat have been harvested from the carcasses of more than 150 animals that have already been slain.
Utilizing natural resources for the benefit of Namibian people is mandated by the constitution, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism.
Namibia, which lies in southern Africa, which is prone to droughts, regularly experiences similar occurrences.
Beginning in October 2023 in Botswana and affecting Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and most of southern Africa, this extreme drought has been especially destructive.
El Niño, a meteorological pattern linked to excessive heat and dry spells in many parts of the world and the ocean, is the main cause of the current dire situation.
July through September is often a time when there is little food available in Namibia; the drought has made matters worse.
OCHA reports rising severe acute malnutrition and deaths among young children, and warns that women and girls face increased gender-based violence risks due to longer trips for food and water.
As a result of the drought forcing animals to travel in search of food and water, Namibia intends to slaughter wild animals not just for meat but also to avoid conflicts.
Culling some animals will ease drought effects by managing grazing pressure and water availability in areas where populations exceed resources.
However, animals deserve to live just as much as humans do hence there is a need for adopting a middle path in such situations.
To stop overcrowding and environmental deterioration, they should invest in conservation measures including wildlife corridors, habitat restoration, and improved land-use planning.
To lessen conflict between humans and wildlife, non-lethal wildlife management techniques like relocation, fertility control, and better fencing should be investigated.