The Drought Hotspots Around the World 2023–2025 report—jointly released in July by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the US National Drought Mitigation Center, and the International Drought Resilience Alliance—details how rising temperatures and water scarcity are pushing both wildlife and human populations to the brink.
While the impacts of drought are not new to these regions, the scale and intensity of recent events have exposed the fragility of conservation systems and the increasing difficulty of maintaining balance between humans and nature.
A Worsening Climate Compounded by Human Interference
The return of El Niño in 2023 triggered a global rise in temperatures, exacerbating an already volatile situation in southern and eastern Africa. The phenomenon, closely linked to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate pattern, spurred widespread drought conditions that undermined food and water security for both people and animals.
In Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, one of Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuaries, drying waterholes turned into death traps. At least 100 elephants perished from dehydration or became stuck in the thick mud as they desperately sought water. Similarly, in Namibia, worsening conditions prompted the government to prepare to cull over 600 animals—including hippos, zebras, and buffaloes—across five national parks to reduce pressure on dwindling resources.
Zimbabwe also authorised the killing of 200 elephants, citing overpopulation and the need to divert meat to drought-affected human communities. The country’s elephant population, according to authorities, far exceeds its ecological carrying capacity—a claim that has sparked debates over long-term wildlife management.
Human-Wildlife Conflict on the Rise
As drought intensifies and natural resources vanish, animals are increasingly encroaching on human settlements—often with fatal consequences. In Kenya’s Kajiado County, a tragic incident in June 2023 saw six lions killed by a Maasai herder after they preyed on his goats. The lions had strayed from the nearby Amboseli National Park, pushed by hunger and thirst into a space where peaceful coexistence turned deadly.
Historically, the Maasai community has lived in relative harmony with wildlife. But as the ecosystem collapses under climate pressure, traditional boundaries are eroding, leaving both sides vulnerable. The herder’s frustration was compounded by a compensation scheme that he said could not replace his loss—highlighting another gap in the human-wildlife management framework.
Conservation at a Crossroads
Experts believe these violent episodes are symptoms of deeper, structural problems in conservation. Dr. Henno Havenga, a specialist in environmental sciences at North-West University in South Africa, argues that human development has severely restricted animals’ ability to adapt to drought by blocking migratory routes.
“Droughts are part of the natural cycle,” Havenga explains, “but we’ve interrupted the system. With fences, highways, and settlements cutting across ancient migratory corridors, elephants and other large mammals are now confined to shrinking patches of land.”
This confinement, he adds, often leaves animals with no choice but to venture into human areas, turning a natural disaster into a man-made conflict. “Most of the deaths we’re seeing aren’t just due to thirst or hunger. They’re happening because conservation systems are under immense strain. Animals are trapped—ecologically and physically.”
A Call for Rethinking Conservation Policy
The report urges a shift in conservation strategies to address the emerging realities of climate stress. This includes restoring migratory corridors, reassessing park boundaries, and investing in community-based conservation initiatives that balance ecological needs with human survival.
Without such reforms, experts warn, future droughts will trigger repeated cycles of mass die-offs, conflicts, and last-resort culling efforts.
At stake is more than just Africa’s famed biodiversity. The cultural and economic livelihoods of communities long intertwined with wildlife are also under threat. As the line between ecological collapse and human hardship narrows, the consequences of inaction grow more dire.