Elephant herds face first cull in Zimbabwe for 30 years

Zimbabwe is considering culling elephants for the first time in more than 30 years because it says the population is too high. African elephants are ranked as vulnerable to extinction by international conservation authorities, but the Zimbabwe government says there are an estimated 100,000 animals in the country. ‘‘We are trying to see ways in which we can reduce the numbers. We have to discuss it at policy level as government,’’ Mangaliso Ndlovu, the environment minister, said. ‘‘Options are on the table, including culling.’’ Family groups or herds would have to be killed en masse as surviving animals are known to suffer great stress that can alter their behaviour.