By Chantelle Tatenda Muzanenhamo
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) is currently facing a difficult challenge as it grapples with over 100 tonnes of ivory accumulated from natural mortality and the management of a rising elephant population.
Compounding this issue is the ongoing international ban on the ivory trade, which has been in effect since 1989, limiting options for the responsible disposal of this surplus.
Zimparks Director General Dr Fulton Upenyu Mangwanya, admitted that the agency’s ivory vault is overflowing, raising urgent questions about the future of this stockpile. He expressed uncertainty about how to handle the surplus.
“We have over 100 tonnes of ivory because of natural mortality and management of elephants whose numbers continue to rise. The situation that I have right now is that the vault is full of ivory. I don’t know what to do with it,” he stated.
The Director General emphasized the pressing need to consider the broader implications of wildlife management, particularly in light of climate change and its impact on local communities.
He highlighted the delicate balance between conservation efforts and the needs of human populations affected by environmental challenges.
“I will not hesitate to take down the elephants for the sake of the habitat and the people who are dying of hunger because of climate change,” he asserted.
As the elephant population continues to grow, Zimparks faces the complex task of managing both wildlife and human interests. This situation has sparked a broader conversation about wildlife management practices in Zimbabwe, particularly regarding the ethical considerations of culling elephants and the implications for biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Stakeholders are now calling for a comprehensive strategy that addresses both the conservation of elephants and the livelihoods of communities living near wildlife habitats.
Adding to the discourse, United Zimbabwe Alliance President Elisabeth Valerio recently voiced her strong opposition to the government’s proposal to cull 200 elephants, arguing that it is not a sustainable solution to feed starving Zimbabweans.
“This will NOT feed our people! Instead, it will intensify human-wildlife conflict. Communities living on the fringes of our national parks will be left to suffer the consequences,” she stated in a post on X.
As discussions unfold, the future of Zimbabwe’s ivory stockpile remains uncertain, with calls for innovative solutions that prioritize both wildlife conservation and community welfare.