https://www.voanews.com/a/bots...hunting/7500282.html


Botswana Pushes Against European Opposition to Trophy Hunting

February 23, 2024 3:28 PM
By Mqondisi Dube





GABORONE, BOTSWANA —
Botswana says it will use next week’s U.N. Environment Assembly to lobby against a proposed European ban on importing wildlife trophies from Africa.

This comes as Botswana’s former president visits the U.K. to lobby in favor of the ban, defying his country’s position.

Botswana’s acting minister of environment and tourism, Machana Shamukuni, told Parliament that he would be present when the U.N. Environment Assembly convenes Monday in Nairobi. He said he would be reminding like-minded delegates to continue to lobby against Europe’s efforts to ban trophy hunting.

Trophy hunting is the practice of killing large animals such as elephants, lions and tigers for sport. Hunters often keep the heads or other parts of the animals for display.

In 2022, the European Parliament announced plans to introduce a ban on the import of wildlife trophies. Conservationists are concerned that continued hunting will further deplete wildlife populations, which are declining in many areas from loss of habitat and poaching.

However, Botswana has the world’s largest elephant population at more than 130,000, and the giant animals are often in conflict with humans.

Investigation urged

Siyoka Simasiku is director of the Ngamiland Council of Nongovernmental Organizations, a conservation coalition, and has been involved in the campaign against the proposed wildlife trophy import bans. He said authorities in Europe needed to travel to southern Africa to get firsthand information about how limited elephant hunting helps Botswana.

“This has been the call of the community — to invite European countries, including the U.K., to come directly to their areas to witness what the benefits from this wildlife have actually provided them, and also to see the damages that are also brought about by wildlife within their areas in terms of crop damage, competition for water holes and loss of lives," Simasiku said. "These are things that are dear to our communities.”

Currently, Botswana issues about 300 elephant hunting licenses per year, generating approximately $3 million for the country, separate from the other revenues the hunters generate.

Meanwhile, former Botswana President Ian Khama this week arrived in the United Kingdom to drum up support for the hunting ban.

While in office, Khama enacted a hunting ban in 2014, but his successor, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, lifted the moratorium in 2019.

Simasiku said wildlife communities in Botswana oppose Khama’s recent actions.

“The Botswana communities strongly oppose this move where the former president advocates for a trophy hunting ban in London," he said. "They have expressed concerns about the negative impact on their livelihoods and conservation efforts. They argue that a blanket ban overlooks their role in sustainable wildlife management and urge for a more inclusive approach that considers their perspectives and needs.”

No European Union ban on wildlife trophy imports has materialized so far, but the U.K. House of Lords considered a ban that failed to pass, while Germany and France are considering similar prohibitions.

Last month, Belgium succeeded in introducing a ban, amid calls for the rest of Europe to follow suit.

Folks the western world needs to leave Africa alone to manage as they see fit. This all started with the U2 Asshole Bono that is now destroying SA. Here's the root problem,, the left antis would rather see animals starve to death rather than support hunting and we all know organized controlled hunting is a bonus to wildlife. As Robert Ruark said "something of value" which is beneficial to African Wildlife and African people. We have let the left with their loud shouting and idiotic protests (look at throwing paint on precious pieces of art). As conservative thinking people (not all hunters are but many are) we need to take the damn world back. I'm sick of it and hate to rant. The former president envisions himself a wealthy London white elite which he cant fulfill one of the descriptions. He stopped lion hunting in Botswana because he was called the "great lion". What an idiot. And the author of this article is stupid saying hunters hunt Tigers,, I wish,, but no.

dont knpw why this is not showing

Botswana Elephant carrying capacity is in the 50-55,000 range. They have 130,000.

Ele populations in Southern Africa have been growing at around 5%.

Botswana issuing 300 permits = 0.2% of their Ele population annually.

They can either let the elephant destroy habitat, and eventually populations will "self adjust" (horrific mess all-around) or they can sell some hunts. A lot of hunts.

Taking 0.2% off the top ain't going to fix this.

It might heed the West best to sort their own bloody affairs'.

And leave others to their own devices!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
It might heed the West best to sort their own bloody affairs'.

And leave others to their own devices!

It's easier to point out problems than to look at the problems in your own house.

Leave us to sort out our own game population we have done well without help from the west.
The west is the reason why we have an over population of elephant in first place.

The antis should be concentrating on countries that don’t have game laws and barely any game instead of criticizing countries with conservation success and solid hunting industry that keeps indiscriminate killing of game in check

quote:

Originally posted by M.Shy:
The antis should be concentrating on countries that don’t have game laws and barely any game instead of criticizing countries with conservation success and solid hunting industry that keeps indiscriminate killing of game in check

It isn’t just hunting!

The West has this false sense of superiority over the rest of the world!

Collective punishment!

I stopped reading when I got to,”tigers.”

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by M.Shy:
The antis should be concentrating on countries that don’t have game laws and barely any game instead of criticizing countries with conservation success and solid hunting industry that keeps indiscriminate killing of game in check

It isn’t just hunting!

The West has this false sense of superiority over the rest of the world!

Collective punishment!

Agreed

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by M.Shy:
The antis should be concentrating on countries that don’t have game laws and barely any game instead of criticizing countries with conservation success and solid hunting industry that keeps indiscriminate killing of game in check

It isn’t just hunting!

The West has this false sense of superiority over the rest of the world!

Collective punishment!

We must start identifying the “enemy” by the right name. It is not the West…
It is the Left which are driven by Marxist ideology. They have taken over the institutions and administrations of the West

We cannot drive back this garbage unless we recognize and identify the real culprits.
The second in line are all the cowards who idly sit by silent while watching the Left destroy institutions and culture

hope bostwana will tell that as well to usa and canada.