Zimbabwe is re-examining its national elephant conservation strategy amid escalating human-elephant conflict, funding shortages, and concerns over the long-term viability of current wildlife management practices. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) recently hosted a workshop in Hwange to review the country’s Elephant Management Plan, which is set to expire in 2025.
The workshop, supported by US-based partners Conservation Force and Dallas Safari Club, brought together stakeholders to assess the plan’s implementation, discuss emerging issues, and explore effective strategies for the future. According to ZimParks, the plan aims to balance elephant conservation with biodiversity and community development.
However, local leaders and conservationists are sounding the alarm on mounting challenges. Traditional leaders from the Hwange district expressed concerns about the lack of tangible benefits for communities affected by human-elephant conflict, citing crop raiding, competition for natural resources, and injuries caused by elephants.
ZimParks acknowledged that the increasing elephant populations and localized overabundance are exacerbating human-elephant conflicts, which are further compounded by poverty and limited economic opportunities.
The conservation body also highlighted the critical funding shortages, with the current budget for Hwange National Park falling short of the estimated US$21 million needed to meet management costs.
The authority emphasized the need for collective efforts to address these challenges, including sustainable utilization of elephant populations, which is currently hindered by international trade restrictions. To support the plan’s implementation, Conservation Force, Dallas Safari Club, and the Zimbabwe Professional Guides Association donated equipment valued at approximately US$200,000.
The public is invited to contribute to the review of the management plan until July 30, 2025. The revised strategy will transition to a ten-year plan, and ZimParks is calling for collaborative efforts to ensure the long-term conservation of Zimbabwe’s elephant populations.
