Botswana criticised over plan to kill 23 elephants for independence celebrations

The licence, issued by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, permits the hunting of the elephants and other wild animals for "complimentary purposes", according to local media reports. The country is holding nationwide festivities on Wednesday to mark the anniversary.

The Botswana-based Elephant Protection Society said the decision could undermine conservation. Chairman Oaitse Nawa told the BBC that elephants needed greater protection, warning that slaughtering elephants for celebratory feasting could encourage poaching by creating the impression that killing elephants is acceptable when sanctioned by government.

"Elephants have lost their social structures because they are always being pushed from one place to another by gunshots," Nawa said.

Concerns have also been raised on social media about eating game meat amid an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, which has prompted authorities to impose measures to contain its spread.

Tshenatshe Monwela, an elder in Maun, a tourism town in north-western Botswana, told local media that his community should have received buffalo instead. He argued that elephants had particular cultural and ecological significance, and that Botswana's historic role in protecting its wildlife and livestock should have been recognised in the allocation of meat for the anniversary celebrations.

Botswana is home to the world's largest elephant population, with more than 130,000 elephants.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The cull tests Botswana's reputation as a conservation leader and sets a precedent for how government-sanctioned elephant killing is perceived.
Serving wild meat during a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak raises public health questions that could affect the celebrations.
The decision could influence how other southern African countries balance wildlife management with community needs.

Background

Botswana has long been known for its wildlife conservation efforts and hosts the world's largest elephant population. Hunting of elephants is a sensitive issue in southern Africa, where governments sometimes defend culls as a form of wildlife management or a source of meat and revenue, while conservation groups argue that such practices threaten animal populations and encourage poaching. The 60th independence anniversary gives officials a reason to distribute meat, but it has reignited a familiar debate over the country's approach to its elephants.

Key Perspectives

Government and licence holders: The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has authorised the hunting of 23 elephants and other wild animals for "complimentary purposes" as part of the national festivities.

Conservationists: The Elephant Protection Society says the killings undermine conservation, normalise the slaughter of elephants and add stress to animal populations that are already being displaced by gunfire.

Local residents and social media users: Some community members and online voices are worried about eating game meat during the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Maun elder Tshenatshe Monwela argues buffalo would have been a more appropriate choice, given the elephant's cultural and ecological importance.

What to Watch

Whether the Ministry of Environment and Tourism responds to criticism or revises the licence.
Any official assurances or measures regarding meat safety given the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Reports of how many elephants are actually culled during the anniversary period.
Reactions from international conservation groups and neighbouring countries with similar wildlife management debates.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Background

Key Perspectives

What to Watch

Sources