WINDHOEK, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Ten elephants considered problematic have been shot dead in northern Namibia in a move authorities say was aimed at protecting farmers and their crops.
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said on Saturday that 10 elephants that had moved into farming areas during the harvest season were culled by wildlife officials over the past month.
Muyunda said officials had no choice but to shoot the animals that were marked as dangerous after causing serious incidents of Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) mainly in the northern parts of the country.
Four elephants were shot by MEFT officials in the Omusati region, four in the Otjozondjupa region and two in the Kavango East region.
"Normally during this season, people are terrorised by elephants. We had no choice but to be proactive," he said.
Muyunda added that elephants may only be put down when there is a need for it and if no other alternative can be found.
Meat from the culled animals was given to the affected communities as compensation for their crop losses. Enditem
