Claim: Image shows an elephant killed in Zimbabwe after the government approved the killing of 200 elephants this month to feed the hunger-stricken families in the country.
Fact: The image is, in fact, from Bangladesh, and appeared on the internet as early as 2021.
On 22 September, X user @Lebona_cabonena shared an image (archive) apparently showing the killing of an elephant in Zimbabwe. The accompanying text said: “The massacre of 200 innocent Elephants have started in Zimbabwe.”
Nearly 200 elephants are to be culled to feed the hunger-stricken population in Zimbabwe and Namibia amid the severe drought facing the southern African countries. Half of Zimbabwe’s population is “facing the risk of acute hunger,” according to CNN. While the move aims to feed the hunger-stricken population, it has drawn criticism from animal rights activists. While the country has authorised the culling, the process has not begun as of writing time as the CNN reported that necessary paperwork is yet to be completed.
The news of the culling of 200 elephants is true. However, the image claiming to show the killing is not from Zimbabwe.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check reverse-searched the image and found it was taken in Bangladesh in 2021.
Benar News published the image in November 2021. According to the article, villagers killed three elephants to protect their crops. Two got electrocuted after coming into contact with an electrified fence and one was shot. A Bengali version of the same news article also carried the photo.
In Bangladesh, only 200 Asian elephants remain, a species which has been declared critically endangered. In February 2024, a High Court ordered a suspension of licences that enabled the adoption of the young elephants to protect “them from exploitation.”
Prothom Alo also carried the same image from January 2022 in an article titled “Two land in jail over killing Asian elephant in Sherpur.”
Soch Fact Check, therefore, concludes the image showing a dead elephant is from Bangladesh and not Zimbabwe. Moreover, while the country has authorised the culling, the process has not begun as of writing time.
Virality
The X post garnered 2.6 million views and was liked 6000 times.
It was shared on X here, here, here, here,
The image appeared on Threads here.
On Facebook here.
Conclusion: The image does not show the killing of elephants taking place in Zimbabwe. The image is from November 2021 when three elephants were killed in Sherpur, Bangladesh.
Background image in cover photo: Le Monde
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