Harare, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe is grappling with an enormous stockpile of ivory following the global ban on the trade of tusks, according to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks). More than 130 tonnes of ivory, estimated to be worth over $600 million, have accumulated in the country’s vaults, highlighting the growing financial strain caused by the long-standing prohibition.
The ban, which was imposed in 1989 by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), has sparked ongoing debate within the southern African nation, home to one of the world’s largest elephant populations. Speaking at a recent event in Chizarira National Park in Binga, Zimparks Director General Fulton Mangwanya stressed the dire situation.
“The vault is now full of ivory. I don’t know what to do with it,” Mangwanya lamented. He expressed frustration that the country cannot derive any economic benefit from the stockpile, which remains locked away due to international trade restrictions.
Zimbabwe is home to more than 80,000 elephants, far exceeding the carrying capacity of its national parks, particularly Hwange National Park, which is struggling to manage between 45,000 and 55,000 elephants in a space designed for only 15,000. The growing population exacerbates human-wildlife conflicts, worsens environmental degradation, and strains the country’s resources.
In an attempt to address these issues, Zimbabwean authorities have made the controversial decision to cull 200 elephants, aiming to alleviate hunger in communities surrounding game parks by distributing the meat. However, Mangwanya acknowledged that this move has been met with sharp criticism from conservation groups.
“Right now, we are doing it internally. We want to kill and utilize the meat. But whether we try to sell hides, send elephants to China, or sell ivory, there is always noise from conservationists,” said Mangwanya. “As a sovereign state, we have to do what is good for our nation. We will not watch our people die of hunger while managing this large elephant population.”
Zimbabwe last culled elephants in 1988, but the increasing population and stockpiles of tusks have intensified calls for change. Despite global opposition to lifting the ivory ban, Zimbabwe continues to argue that sustainable use of its wildlife resources is essential for economic development and the well-being of its citizens.
The culling decision marks a turning point in the country’s wildlife management policy, with authorities signaling they may go beyond the planned 200 elephants if necessary to meet the needs of local communities. The debate over ivory trade and elephant management is likely to persist, as Zimbabwe struggles to balance conservation efforts with economic and humanitarian challenges.
