Increasing clashes between elephants and humans in Zimbabwe highlight the effects of population pressure and climate change.

Joramu Dipuka gets nervous every time he hears an elephant's bark. This man, who lives in Batonga, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Kariba ( Zimbabwe ), a city 356 kilometers from the capital Harare, is frightened by the sound because it reminds him of his encounter with one of these giants in 2013, an event that nearly cost him his life.

“I was returning from accompanying a friend when I ran into him by chance,” says Dipuka, a 54-year-old father of six. “He threw a small pimple right in my face, and suddenly I was on the ground, while the elephant hooked its tusks around my lower back, trying to throw me against a tree.” Dipuka feels lucky because he says the elephant didn't headbutt him, but instead threw him into a crocodile-infested ditch. “As soon as the elephant disappeared, I gathered the strength to get out and headed toward a bridge,” he explains to EL PAÍS.

In the first quarter of this year, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority recorded 18 deaths from conflicts between humans and wild animals such as elephants, lions, and hyenas, adding to the 300 lives lost in the past five years. This is a pressing ecological and conservation issue, the ramifications of which can be far-reaching for both people and animals. In the case of elephants, deaths result from injuries caused by tusks, crushing, or headbutting. In May, three people died in Kariba alone from elephant attacks, while four others were injured while escaping. Zimbabwe has already announced its intention to cull 50 elephants to reduce its population, the second largest in the world after Botswana.

One of those killed in an encounter with an elephant was the husband of Mai Nyemba, another resident of Batonga. In May, Joramu Nyemba went to the forest with a friend to collect firewood. “According to the friend, the elephant appeared where they were resting and blew its head; and they panicked and ran in different directions until my husband disappeared. They found his body two hours later,” says this mother of five.

Councillor Brian Ncube of Nyaminyami Rural Ward 5 in Kariba told this newspaper that “cases of conflict between humans and wild animals are very common, with at least three reported in a single week.”

Animal sacrifice

According to community conservationist Amos Gwema, “The main cause of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe, especially in Kariba, is human population growth and encroachment into wilderness areas. As the human population increases, wilderness areas shrink, leading to increased conflict.” Climate change exacerbates these problems because both humans and elephants encroach on each other’s lands in search of food and water. Kariba is particularly characterized by erratic rainfall patterns and high temperatures; the result is a difficult environment for humans and wildlife to coexist.

Added to this are limited resources, poaching, and a lack of enforcement measures, which make it difficult to implement effective methods to strike a balance between conservation and protection. "Furthermore, the growth of wildlife, especially elephants, exacerbates the situation," Gwema emphasizes. Zimbabwe is estimated to have around 100,000 elephants.

This overpopulation has prompted the country to take action. In early June, Zimbabwe's National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) announced its intention to cull at least 50 elephants in the Save Valley Reserve, located in the south of the country. According to a statement from ZimParks, the area currently houses around 2,550 elephants, despite its ecological capacity of 800. This represents three times more elephants than the habitat can support.

Killing elephants could increase conflicts with humans, as these animals are very intelligent and are likely to seek revenge if a member of the herd is killed.

Farai Maguwu, director of the Center for Natural Resource Governance

This effort to reduce elephant numbers has been met with strong backlash and pushback from organizations such as the Center for Natural Resources and Governance (CNRG). “Culling is a violent, short-term fix that fails to account for the complex social structures of elephant herds, threatens to traumatize surviving animals, and ultimately fails to address the root causes of habitat stress and human-elephant conflict,” it explained in a press release. This organization is dedicated to the research and defense of natural resources.

This isn't the first time Zimbabwe has resorted to culling elephants. In 2024, the country announced the culling of 200 elephants amid the ongoing drought. However, some experts argue that the government should implement sustainable measures that benefit Zimbabwe and reduce the elephant population. "Instead of culling animals, the government could consider selling elephants to countries that don't have elephants or increasing hunting quotas," suggests conservationist Amos Gwema. "This strategy would not only contain the number of animals but would also generate revenue for conservation efforts."

For Farai Maguwu, director of the Center for Natural Resource Governance, “Randomly killing elephants is ridiculous, as violent elephants are a small minority, and unless one has attacked someone, there’s no way of knowing which ones are aggressive and which ones aren’t.” “They could end up killing the most peaceful ones and leaving those most likely to attack humans alive. In fact, killing elephants could increase conflicts with humans, as these animals are highly intelligent and are likely to seek revenge if a member of the herd is killed,” he adds.

Another option, Gwema mentions, would be "to relocate elephants from highly concentrated areas to less populated ones," which could be, in his opinion, "an effective solution." "Furthermore, some innovative projects, such as chili guns and beehive fences, can deter elephants from invading human settlements," he adds.

Scarcity of resources

Henry Varandeni, a former forest ranger who is now responsible for the environment in the rural district of Nyaminyami, supports the culling of elephants because “it’s a strategy used in wildlife management.” “If there’s a large amount of something, it’s obvious that the population should benefit from the wildlife resources, so culling elephants at this time is a welcome idea,” he says.

However, Varandeni also points to other problems. “The number of rangers is far below the 20 square kilometer limit per ranger recommended by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),” he explains to EL PAÍS. “Furthermore, radio communications lack coverage in the Rural Council areas, which makes communication difficult.”

In an attempt to address the problem, the Nyaminyami Rural District Council is collaborating with the Matusadona Conservation Trust (MCT) and Nature Conservation Action (WCA). “These organizations are reaching out to the community with support in awareness campaigns, the installation of protective pens, and even measures to help keep animals away from residential areas. For example, using chili repellents to scare away elephants,” explains Councilor Brian Ncube of Nyaminyami Rural Ward 5 in Kariba.

I haven't received any help from any wildlife protection organization or the government. I didn't even see anyone from ZimParks attending the funeral to officially offer their condolences.

Mai Nyemba, her husband died from an elephant attack

But the victims believe these donations are intended for rural residents, while they continue to struggle to support their families, as they receive no assistance. "I haven't received any help from any wildlife protection organization or the government. I didn't even see anyone from ZimParks attend the funeral to officially offer their condolences," Nyemba told EL PAÍS.

Dipuka, who used to repair televisions and radios and travel long distances to work, now finds it very difficult to walk. “I have a large scar that runs from my lower back to my left thigh, so walking long distances makes my leg hurt. I can't do all the things I used to do for my family,” he says.