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| Botswana lifts ban on hunting elephants | Botswana lifts ban on hunting elephants |
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| Botswana has lifted its ban on elephant hunting, saying the population has increased and farmers’ livelihoods are being affected, in a move likely to trigger outrage from conservationists. | |
| President Ian Khama, a keen environmentalist, introduced a prohibition on elephant hunting in the southern African country in 2014. | President Ian Khama, a keen environmentalist, introduced a prohibition on elephant hunting in the southern African country in 2014. |
| But lawmakers from the ruling Botswana Democratic party (BDP) have been lobbying to overturn the ban, saying numbers have become unmanageable in some areas. | But lawmakers from the ruling Botswana Democratic party (BDP) have been lobbying to overturn the ban, saying numbers have become unmanageable in some areas. |
| The current president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, took over from Khama last year and a public review began five months later, with reports suggesting growing political friction between Masisi and his predecessor. | The current president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, took over from Khama last year and a public review began five months later, with reports suggesting growing political friction between Masisi and his predecessor. |
| “Botswana has taken a decision to lift the hunting suspension,” the environment ministry said in a statement. | “Botswana has taken a decision to lift the hunting suspension,” the environment ministry said in a statement. |
| It said a cabinet committee review found that “the number and high levels of human-elephant conflict and the consequent impact on livelihoods was increasing”. | It said a cabinet committee review found that “the number and high levels of human-elephant conflict and the consequent impact on livelihoods was increasing”. |
| “The general consensus from those consulted was that the hunting ban should be lifted,” it added, vowing that hunting would be restarted “in an orderly and ethical manner”. | “The general consensus from those consulted was that the hunting ban should be lifted,” it added, vowing that hunting would be restarted “in an orderly and ethical manner”. |
| Landlocked Botswana has the largest elephant population in Africa, with more than 135,000 roaming freely in its unfenced parks and wide open spaces. | Landlocked Botswana has the largest elephant population in Africa, with more than 135,000 roaming freely in its unfenced parks and wide open spaces. |
| Some experts say the number of elephants in the country, renowned as a luxury safari destination, has almost tripled over the last 30 years, and that the population could now be more than 160,000. | Some experts say the number of elephants in the country, renowned as a luxury safari destination, has almost tripled over the last 30 years, and that the population could now be more than 160,000. |
| Farmers struggle to keep elephants out of their fields, where they eat crops and can kill people. | |
| Lifting the ban could be popular with rural voters ahead of an election due in October. | |
| Many of Botswana’s elephants roam across borders into Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. | Many of Botswana’s elephants roam across borders into Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
| All four countries have called for a global ban on the elephant ivory trade to be relaxed due to the growing number of the animals in some regions. | All four countries have called for a global ban on the elephant ivory trade to be relaxed due to the growing number of the animals in some regions. |
| “We cannot continue to be spectators while others debate and take decisions about our elephants,” Masisi told a meeting of the countries’ presidents this month in Botswana. | “We cannot continue to be spectators while others debate and take decisions about our elephants,” Masisi told a meeting of the countries’ presidents this month in Botswana. |
| “Conflict between elephants and people is on the rise as the demand for land, for agriculture and settlements is growing,” he said. | “Conflict between elephants and people is on the rise as the demand for land, for agriculture and settlements is growing,” he said. |
| While elephant numbers have increased in some areas, over the past decade the population of elephants across Africa has fallen by about 111,000 to 415,000, largely due to poaching for ivory, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). | While elephant numbers have increased in some areas, over the past decade the population of elephants across Africa has fallen by about 111,000 to 415,000, largely due to poaching for ivory, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). |
| Zimbabwe said this month it had sold nearly 100 elephants to China and Dubai – , due to overpopulation – for a total price of $2.7m over six years. | |
| Botswana rejected claims last year by a leading conservation charity that there had been a surge in elephant poaching. | |
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| Conservation | Conservation |
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