April 25 2021 Zimbabwe is preparing to sell no less than 500 elephant hunting rights this year as Coronavirus outbreak hits tourism and triggers a financial crisis, CNN reported.
According to Bloomberg, the price of each elephant ranges from $10,000 to $70,000, depending on its size. A spokesman for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Service said lower revenues due to damaged tourism were the main reason for the decision.
In March, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed African forest elephants as critically endangered and grassland elephants as endangered.
A spokesman for the Centre for Natural Resources Governance, an environmental and human rights advocacy group in Zimbabwe, said the decision to allow elephant hunting was “appalling.”
It is almost certain that wild animals that witness their families being mercilessly shot will retaliate against the local villagers. He said more innovative and eco-friendly measures were needed to boost tourism revenues.
