Emergency culling

ZIMBABWEAN authorities at the Gonarezhou National Park are going ahead with their plan to cull elephant and impala herds by as much as one-third to ensure the survival of other species, including people living in the area. Describing their plan as a "grim but essential" step, the authorities disclosed the meat would be distributed to local villagers, who are beset by the worst drought in southern Africa this century. The authorities also disclosed that about 2,000 of the park's 6,400 elephants and about 5,000 impalas will be shot and they will also carry out large-scale relocation of rhinos, hippos and other animals.