Schlettwein breaks ranks over animal culling
Outgoing minister wants coexistence between humans, animals
New developments indicate that there isn't complete consensus within government ranks over its kill-to-feed programme.
Instead of killing animals to feed hungry Namibians, agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein says the country should rather devise solutions that enable coexistence between humans and wildlife.
His remarks represent the first break in government ranks over a contentious animal culling project, which will see more than 700 animals slaughtered and has triggered intense opposition from domestic and international animal rights pressure groups.
About 1.2 million Namibians are said to be ravaged by acute hunger as a result of the ongoing drought conditions across the country.
In a social media post this week, Schlettwein said "sustainable utilisation" must be applied to both wildlife and domestic animals.
Namibian Sun reached out to the minister to gain further insight into his views on the matter, which are seen by many as opposition to a collective government decision.
"I am not against the sustainable utilisation of natural resources, which may include culling of abundant game species, especially during drought periods. There is a lot of talk about human-wildlife conflict, which most of the time refers to wildlife competing with domestic animals for grazing and water or damage to crops and infrastructure. Solutions that enable coexistence are much better than killing one for the benefit of the other," he said.
In response to a comment on social media, Schlettwein further noted: "I do agree that loss of life is the worst form of damage. What I do not understand is that we want to kill the wild animal (as revenge) and are happily accepting death by road accident as an acceptable risk. I have not mentioned the loss of life because we have a compensation policy in place, realising, however, that the value of life cannot be measured in monetary terms".
Worst drought in a century
The environment ministry recently announced plans to cull 640 animals from five national parks, and an additional 83 elephants outside park boundaries where they come into contact with people.
The Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE), with a membership of over 80 conservation organisations, said it does not oppose the ministry's plan. It added that the 2023/24 rainfall season was exceptionally poor, triggering Namibia's worst drought in 100 years.
Most crops in the northeastern parts of the country have failed, creating severe food insecurity in those regions, it noted.
"By October, the situation will be even worse. Unless rains come early this year, many people will face starvation. All government decisions are ultimately political, but the idea that [the ruling party] Swapo could exaggerate the impacts of a 100-year record drought in time for the elections is far-fetched, to say the least," NCE said.
His remarks represent the first break in government ranks over a contentious animal culling project, which will see more than 700 animals slaughtered and has triggered intense opposition from domestic and international animal rights pressure groups.
About 1.2 million Namibians are said to be ravaged by acute hunger as a result of the ongoing drought conditions across the country.
In a social media post this week, Schlettwein said "sustainable utilisation" must be applied to both wildlife and domestic animals.
Namibian Sun reached out to the minister to gain further insight into his views on the matter, which are seen by many as opposition to a collective government decision.
"I am not against the sustainable utilisation of natural resources, which may include culling of abundant game species, especially during drought periods. There is a lot of talk about human-wildlife conflict, which most of the time refers to wildlife competing with domestic animals for grazing and water or damage to crops and infrastructure. Solutions that enable coexistence are much better than killing one for the benefit of the other," he said.
In response to a comment on social media, Schlettwein further noted: "I do agree that loss of life is the worst form of damage. What I do not understand is that we want to kill the wild animal (as revenge) and are happily accepting death by road accident as an acceptable risk. I have not mentioned the loss of life because we have a compensation policy in place, realising, however, that the value of life cannot be measured in monetary terms".
Worst drought in a century
The environment ministry recently announced plans to cull 640 animals from five national parks, and an additional 83 elephants outside park boundaries where they come into contact with people.
The Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE), with a membership of over 80 conservation organisations, said it does not oppose the ministry's plan. It added that the 2023/24 rainfall season was exceptionally poor, triggering Namibia's worst drought in 100 years.
Most crops in the northeastern parts of the country have failed, creating severe food insecurity in those regions, it noted.
"By October, the situation will be even worse. Unless rains come early this year, many people will face starvation. All government decisions are ultimately political, but the idea that [the ruling party] Swapo could exaggerate the impacts of a 100-year record drought in time for the elections is far-fetched, to say the least," NCE said.
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