ZAMBIA: Good News, Zambia Stays Hippo Slaughter

Following the feature here on 11th of June, in which it was reported that the Zambian authorities were going ahead with a major hippo cull, numbering as many as 2.000 of these river inhabitants, the cull will be suspended.

Born Free Foundation and other conservation NGO's, locally, regionally and internationally, had appealed to the Zambian government to halt the cull, some calling it unsustainable and ill researched.

A Lusaka based source sent in the media release issued by the Zambian Ministry of Tourism and Arts, following the global uproar over the plans:

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) wishes to announce the suspension of hippo culling exercise in the Luangwa Valley.

This was necessitated by events that have come with the culling activity that started in May.

In the meantime the department will evaluate the matter and provide a way forward.

Culling is a wildlife management measure usually taken in situations where the population of a particular species exceeds the carrying capacity of the habitat, thereby the habitat cannot support the given species.

Recently research revealed that the water levels in the Luangwa River system have been low and insufficient to support the hippo population especially in the dry season.

DNPW has assessed the situation and estimated that 2,000 hippos need to be culled in a space of five (5) years.

Following the suspension of the culling operations, the department is making extensive consultations and will make further pronouncements on the matter as it deems fit according to its mandate.

The department is committed to the protection and sustainable utilisation of wildlife resources for ecological and socio-economic benefits for the present and future as mandated by Wildlife Act Number 14 of 2015.

Sakabilo Kalembwe - Zacks
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Tourism and Arts

Tourism sources as well as conservation groups have applauded the swift reaction and suspension of the cull and expressed their hope that Zambia's wildlife experience will not be clouded by such negative publicity as generated by the plans to cull 2.000 of the river beasts.

Meanwhile will on Sunday evening the second edition of the Zambia Tourism Exhibition in Lusaka go underway, lasting until the evening of the 29th of June.

Expect live reports and destination features from this correspondent, so watch this space for updates.