Zimbabwe won't apologise for exporting animals to China

Zimbabwe's government has reportedly said it would be exporting more of its wildlife to China in order to raise necessary funds to look after its animals, a report said on Monday.

According to the state owned Herald newspaper, the minister of Environment, Water and Climate Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said Zimbabwe would not be "apologising" for sending its animals to China.

She said China had taken "good care" of the elephants which were exported to that country in July last year.

"We are going to increase the number of elephants and other species we are exporting to China because they have done a good job in taking care of those they have already bought from us. We will not apologise to anyone. Not even once, because they are our elephants and our people live with a huge population of elephants and bear the trouble of interacting with them.

The minister said looking after wildlife in the southern African country was a challenge as they battled with drought and poaching.