A 48-year-old resident of Oshitumbe B Village, in Omusati's Uukwaluudhi Conservancy, was killed by elephants on Sunday. 

The body of Efraim Shivute was discovered early on Tuesday morning by community members.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism's spokesperson says a herd of approximately 20 elephants was observed in the area. 

Romeo Muyunda says officials from the ministry have since been dispatched there.

While sympathising with the bereaved family, Muyunda cautioned communities in wildlife-prone areas to refrain from walking in the bush at night.

The ministry will be culling 83 elephants from identified conflict areas, with the meat to go towards the drought relief programme. 

"There is a need to reduce the number of elephants in the country as a way to reduce HWC. We also know that the country finds itself in a severe situation with the drought situation, and the conflicts are expected to increase if no intervention is done."

Twelve of the elephants to be culled are in the Kunene Region, 12 in Otjozodjupa, five in Erongo, 10 in Omusati, three in Oshana, two from Oshikoto, seven from Kavango West, two from Kavango East, and 30 from Zambezi Region. 

The culling will be conducted by professional hunters, conservancies in specific areas, and Safari Outfitters, a company contracted by the ministry. 

"This announcement also disposes of rumours that have been said by some of our critics that we are hunting deserted adopted elephants. This rumour is unfounded and devoid of any truth. As you can see from the numbers we put up, there are no desert-adapted elephants that are going to be hunted or culled in this process."