Botswana’s President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has issued a stern warning to Germany, threatening to send 20,000 elephants to the European nation amid a conservation dispute.
The tension arose after Germany’s environment ministry proposed stricter regulations on importing hunting trophies earlier this year.
President Masisi argued that such restrictions would exacerbate the challenges faced by his country, asserting that Botswana’s elephant population had surged due to successful conservation efforts.
He emphasized that controlled hunting played a crucial role in managing elephant numbers and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, including property damage and crop destruction caused by elephant herds.
In response to Germany’s stance, President Masisi conveyed his determination to address the issue by offering to send elephants to Germany, emphasizing that this was not a matter to be taken lightly.
Botswana’s Wildlife Minister, Dumezweni Mthimkhulu, also echoed these sentiments, previously suggesting the relocation of elephants to London’s Hyde Park as a means of highlighting the challenges faced by affected communities.
The controversy underscores the broader debate surrounding the importation of hunting trophies, with Botswana and other southern African countries defending the practice as a vital source of revenue for conservation efforts and local communities.
Meanwhile, Germany and other nations are grappling with ethical considerations and conservation concerns associated with trophy hunting.
