Botswana authorizes elephant hunting for independence celebrations

The Botswana government has authorized the hunting of 23 elephants across eight districts as part of the nation’s 60th independence anniversary celebrations. Authorities stated the initiative aims to provide meat for needy rural communities and manage the country's large elephant population, which is estimated at approximately 130,000.

The decision has sparked a confrontation between the government and former president and Bangwato paramount chief Ian Khama. Khama has opposed the allocation of elephants to the Serowe District, arguing that normalizing hunting for celebrations risks changing public perception of wildlife from a protected natural resource to a commodity for consumption.

In response, Environment and Tourism Minister Wynter Mmolotsi issued a letter stating that Khama lacks the authority to interfere with government decisions regarding wildlife. The ministry confirmed that the offer of elephants to the people of Serowe remains valid.

Conservation groups, including the Botswana Elephant Protection Society, have criticized the move as reckless. They warned that such actions could increase human-wildlife conflict by making elephant herds more defensive and hostile toward local populations. While African savanna elephants are listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Botswana has maintained annual hunting quotas since lifting a ban in 2019 to manage burgeoning numbers and mitigate damage to crops and infrastructure.