Drought Pits Human Against Animals in Namibian Tussle for Food
- Attacks by elephants, lions and crocodiles are on the increase
- Problem being exacerbated by outdated government policies
A general view of farmland on the outskirts of Ovitoto settlement, Namibia.
Photographer: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Conflict between humans and wild animals in Namibia is escalating as a severe drought intensifies competition for food and water in rural areas, and the problem is being exacerbated by outdated policies, a parliamentary report published Friday says.
Attacks by elephants, lions, and crocodiles have increased, and led to a rise in human fatalities, widespread crop destruction and livestock losses, according to the report, which was prepared by the legislature’s standing committee on natural resources. The situation is also dire in neighboring Angola, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, it said.