Wildlife

Zambia to reinstate hippo cull

Just about two years ago, this website reported on the Zambian government sanctioned plan to cull 2,000 hippos as a ‘wildlife management tool’ to prevent the future spread of anthrax among wild animals.

Just a short period later, the government suspended the cull “to allow for further consultation with stakeholders”.

Now, the wildlife conservation organization, Born Free, reports the 2016 decision not to cull has been reversed, prompting calls for Zambian leaders to personally intervene and call a permanent halt to this damaging and distressing plan, with immediate effect.

According to a Born Free press release Thursday– In a shocking and secretive move, Zambian authorities have overturned their 2016 decision to suspend the brutal culling of up to 2,000 hippos in the world-famous Luangwa Valley over the next five years. The cull is once again being promoted to trophy hunters as a hunt, this time by the South African hunting outfitter Umlilo Safaris.