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This new video released this week on Zimbabwe’s elephant problem has done an excellent job of summarising the current issues stemming from Zimbabwe’s elephants and the strategies used to combat them.

The video, produced by Eleven Dogs (a digital media agency), outlines the key problems associated with the overpopulation of elephants in the country.

It is mentioned while Zimbabwe hosts over 85,000 elephants, their National Parks only have space to carry around half this number. This has subsequently led to habitat destruction, biodiversity loss and human wildlife conflict with those living in elephant ranges.

Even though Zimbabwe has historically done well to protect its wildlife, addressing these issues costs money. As the state cannot fully fund National Parks, the parks are required to finance themselves. This is done by utilising the resources they have at hand; their wildlife.

Selling animals to other countries and selling hunting licenses are among the tools used to fund conservation in Zimbabwe. Even though translocation and relocation are stated as being the preferred methods of addressing overpopulation, it is suggested that these approaches are slow and costly, requiring financing to carry out. COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem, as funding has been directed to other channels.

The video states that culling is being considered as an additional measure. While this may be controversial, the severe lack of available habitat means that Zimbabwe is left with few other options.

Despites the fact that these strategies are being successfully employed at the moment, it is suggested that those living in foreign countries are the ones that have voices the most concerns about them. It is argued that favouring emotions over facts is the reason for this difference in opinion.

The CIC congratulates Eleven Dogs for creating an accessible video that provides an accurate snapshot of Zimbabwe’s approach to elephants. Their concluding statement, in which they state that strategies must look to protect the animals themselves, the parks and people, is in line with the our own vision of taking a holistic approach to wildlife management.