Culling

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This article is about culling animals. For culling in 3D graphics, see Back-face culling.

Culling is the process of selection of surplus animals from an animal population. In a wild population the selection is often done by destroying the animal immediately, in a domesticated situation the culling process involves selection and the selling of surplus stock. The selection may be done to improve breeding stock, for example for improve production of eggs or milk, or simply to control the group's population for the benefit of the environment and other species.

Culling for population control is common in wildlife management, particularly on African game farms. In the case of very large animals, such as elephants, adults are often targeted. Their orphaned young, easily captured and transported, are then relocated. Without proper elephant socialization, young male elephants are believed to become unruly and dangerous to other elephants, wildlife and humans. Culling is controversial in many African countries, but reintroduction of the practice has been recommended in recent years for use at the Kruger National Park in South Africa, which has experienced a swell in its elephant population since culling was banned in 1995.^[1]

Culling is also practiced in North America, where it is more controversial. For example the Canadian practice of culling wolves and seal-cubs. The culling of prey species elsewhere in America is also disputed, since many species moderate their own breeding habits based upon the supply of food and the rate of predator deprivation. In an area with little food but many predators, prey animals will still have ample offspring so as to ensure survival of the next generation. Hence in some cases a cull can be counter productive by causing the population explosion it is designed to prevent.

Some conservationists have claimed that culls are often associated more with the tax revenue that comes from hunting licenses than any actual ecological benefit.

Also, certain Satanist groups have had, allegedly, rituals where certain individuals are chosen to die because they possess traits that the Satanist considers undesirable, or vile. These rituals are referred to as culling. See also Satanic Ritual Abuse.