Botswana approves 23 elephant hunting licences

The Botswana government has approved hunting licences for 23 elephants across eight districts. The decision coincides with the nation’s 60th anniversary of independence from Britain. Authorities stated that the meat from the elephants, along with dozens of antelope, will be distributed to needy rural communities.

Officials defend the regulated hunting as a necessary wildlife management tool to control Botswana’s elephant population, which is estimated at approximately 130,000 animals. The government argues that controlled quotas help mitigate human-elephant conflict, where herds damage crops and infrastructure or injure people. Botswana lifted its ban on elephant hunting in 2019 to address these issues.

However, the move has drawn criticism from conservationists and political figures. The Elephant Protection Society described the decision as “reckless,” warning that killing herd members can make remaining elephants more defensive and hostile toward local communities. Former President Ian Khama also expressed disagreement with the move. While the African savanna elephant is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Botswana maintains one of the continent’s strongest populations.