African Elephants photo: www.trueactivist.com
Zimbabwe has stated that it has sold 35 elephants to China to reduce overpopulation and to raise funds for conservation, sparking criticism from conservationists themselves.
Zimbabwe Parks and the Wildlife Management Authority stated Thursday it had exported 35 elephants on December 23 from Hwange, the country’s largest national park.
“We all know the government is strained for cash … but that should not be at the expense of our wildlife and our heritage,” stated Johnny Rodrigues from Zimbabwe Conservation Taskforce on Friday.
The wildlife authority did not say how much China paid for the elephants, but stated the proceeds would be used for conservation programmes, which had been affected by international restrictions on trophy hunting and ivory sales.
Zimbabwe’s elephant population of more than 83,000 is the second-largest in Africa, the wildlife authority said, adding that Hwange had over 45,000 elephants against a what it described as an ecological carrying capacity of 15,000.
Rodrigues stated that the government had initially denied the sale when his organization revealed it last month.
The wildlife authority stated the elephants had been exported under strict surveillance from the country’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, but Rodrigues stated they had been removed “under unfriendly conditions, including weaning off some young animals, which were still depending on lactating.”
Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri told dpa she would “not waste your time” responding to Rodrigues’ allegations, dismissing them as “the usual stuff to get the attention of donors.”