Credit: AP
Zimbabwe plans to sell rights to shoot hundreds of elephants in a desperate bid to make up for tourism income lost during the Covid pandemic.
As many as 500 elephants could be killed as the hunting season kicks off over the southern hemisphere’s winter season.
Tinashe Farawo, a spokesman for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) told ITV News hunting is nothing new and that the tourism it brings is vital to financing conservation efforts.
He said they have had to revise their budget down by 70-80% and that failure to raise funds could leave them unable to afford proper defences against poachers.