By a Correspondent
Zimbabwe’s elephant population has grown to more than 85,000—almost double the country’s ecological carrying capacity—posing an increasing conservation challenge that requires urgent intervention, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has warned.
ZimParks Director of Scientific Services, Professor Never Muboko, said the country’s elephant population has expanded dramatically over the past four decades.
Speaking at the launch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zimbabwe’s new organisational strategy and Responsible Mining Project in Harare, Professor Muboko said Zimbabwe’s elephant population had risen from fewer than 20,000 in the 1980s to more than 85,000 today.
“In the 1980s, Zimbabwe had less than 20,000 elephants. Today, we have over 85,000 elephants, and depending on the season, the figure can approach 100,000,” he said.
Professor Muboko said while the population growth reflects Zimbabwe’s conservation success, it has also created a major wildlife management challenge.
“The carrying capacity for Zimbabwe is 45,000 elephants, but now we have 85,000. This means we have exceeded the carrying capacity and must begin addressing the implications of this growth,” he said.
He said WWF Zimbabwe’s newly launched strategic plan comes at a critical time and could help conservation partners develop solutions to ease mounting pressure on wildlife habitats and ecosystems.
Zimbabwe has periodically implemented or considered controversial wildlife management measures as elephant populations in some protected areas continue to exceed sustainable ecological limits.
During severe regional droughts, authorities have authorised controlled elephant culling in affected conservancies. Meat from the culled animals has been distributed to local communities facing protein shortages as part of efforts to support food security.
The government’s approach has attracted criticism from international conservation groups and animal welfare advocates, who argue that non-lethal alternatives such as translocation, expanded habitat management and eco-tourism initiatives should be prioritised.
Zimbabwean authorities maintain that population control measures are necessary in some areas to protect ecosystems, reduce human-wildlife conflict and prevent habitat degradation where elephant numbers have surpassed the land’s carrying capacity.
Professor Muboko also expressed concern over the increase in illegal mining activities within protected areas, warning that biodiversity is under growing threat from climate change, habitat degradation and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.
“We are now experiencing increasing illegal mining activities even within protected areas. These challenges require collective action from all stakeholders,” he said.
He commended WWF Zimbabwe for promoting responsible mining practices, saying sustainable resource extraction is essential to balancing economic development with environmental protection.
Professor Muboko highlighted the long-standing partnership between ZimParks and WWF Zimbabwe, which dates back to the mid-1980s, saying the collaboration has made significant contributions to wildlife conservation, ecosystem protection and community livelihoods.
He said recent joint conservation initiatives in the Sinamatella area of the Hwange landscape have strengthened protection of critical habitats for elephants, buffaloes, vultures and other wildlife within the broader Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Professor Muboko said strong partnerships remain essential to addressing Zimbabwe’s conservation challenges and safeguarding the country’s natural heritage for future generations.
“We believe people and nature can coexist. Together, through strategic partnerships, we can achieve greater impact for wildlife, ecosystems and communities,” he said.
