Botswanahome to the world’s largest population of elephants, he has been an outspoken critic of efforts by some European nations to ban the import of hunting trophies from Africa.
The UK government is close to passing a new law that would ban the importation of game trophies, the body parts of animals hunted for sport on safari in Africa. The legislation would ban the import of body parts from elephants, bears, lions, hippos and zebras into the UK. But critics say the UK should drop the issue as paid hunting funds anti-poaching efforts, provides tourism-related jobs for Africans and reduces the number of animal-human conflicts .
The debate over the new law highlights the ongoing conflict between conservation efforts and the livelihoods of communities in African countries where Trophy hunting plays a critical economic role.
Other countries in Europe have also proposed similar bans on trophy hunting, including Germany. In response, Botswana’s president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany.
“It is very easy to sit in Berlin and have an opinion about our affairs in Botswana.” Masisi told German media. “We are paying the price to preserve these animals for the world,” he said.
Some southern African countries, including Botswana, also depend on trophy hunting to keep wildlife populations in check. The country hosts a third of the total African elephant populationand many residents of the country say the wild elephant population is out of control.
Clashes of elephants
There are currently about 130,000-140,000 elephants in Botswana, which has a population of 2.6 million people — that’s about 1 elephant for every 15 people. “People in Botswana say there are too many elephants for this country,” DW correspondent Florian Nusch told DW.
Nusch says most locals support trophy hunting as it helps keep elephant populations in check. “There is a lot of human-elephant conflict. This can range from your fields being trampled, your mangoes or watermelons being eaten by elephants that were meant to be traded,” Nusch explained. “It can result in pushing your hut. It can even lead to human death, and this happens on a regular basis. If an elephant comes near your field and you try to chase it away… it can end up being fatal for you ».
Trophy hunting was banned in Botswana in 2014 with the authorities citing population decline. The decision was celebrated by animal rights groups but condemned by many locals, who said the measures led to fewer jobs and a resurgence of elephant damage to property and crops.
However, following pressure from local communities, the ban on trophy hunting was lifted in 2019. The situation remains tragic in the eyes of the government and many citizens. To reduce the number of elephants, Botswana has tried to give 8,000 elephants to neighboring Angola and has offered hundreds more to Mozambique.
“Trophy hunting is basically just a controversy outside of Botswana,” Nusch said.
The hunting experience
DW’s correspondent has covered professional housing in Botswana and seen firsthand how it’s done.
Safaris are led by a licensed professional hunter and clients are usually from the US, UK and Europe. They pay a high price to attend such hunting safaris, which last at least ten days, he explains.
Nutsch explained that there are strict rules when it comes to hunting. Shooting animals at watering holes is prohibited, as is the use of technical equipment such as drones.
Hunted animals must also meet specific criteria, according to Nusch: “It must always be a single, older male, as elephants live in matriarchal societies,” he said.
Hunting for the benefit of communities in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwethe government is also trying to reduce human-elephant conflicts and will soon announce hunting quotas for 2024.
DW’s Harare-based correspondent Privilege Musvanhiri said the move is welcomed by many.
“On average, we have 50 people killed by elephants from different parts of Zimbabwe annually, especially those adjacent to our national parks,” many of which are already at capacity, he tells DW.
This quota will not only support agricultural development but also decongest elephant herds.
What solutions are available?
Anglistone Sibanda, aconservation specialist in Zimbabwe, said the country has stockpiles of ivory that it is not allowed to sell because of a ban on international trade in elephant tusks. However, if this were not the case, the proceeds could be used to support government conservation projects.
“Government has had to divert funds from other sources to fund conservation projects… this is putting Zimbabwe in a quagmire,” he said.
Sibanda said conservation efforts related to elephants in southern Africa have become a curse, as local communities are negatively affected by elephant herds.
“And yet someone in Berlin, someone in London who enjoys seeing elephants doesn’t understand the cost of keeping this animal,” he said.
“You have the neoliberal approach, the neoliberal countries driving the agenda. They care about elephants at the expense of ordinary people who are suffering. Those who think they care so much about elephants are not feeling the heat,” he told DW. .
Eddy Micah Jr, Florian Nutsch in Botswana and Privilege Musvanhiri in Zimbabwe contributed to this articlele.
For more on this topic, listen to the AfricaLink Podcast: Trophy Hunting in Africa