Botswana’s president has issued a warning of potentially sending 20,000 elephants to Germany amidst a disagreement regarding the importation of hunting trophies. Earlier this year, Germany’s environment ministry hinted at imposing stricter regulations on trophy imports due to concerns about poaching.
However, President Mokgweetsi Masisi argued that such a ban would only harm the people of Botswana. He emphasized that conservation efforts have led to a significant increase in the elephant population, and hunting serves as a necessary measure to manage their numbers. While Botswana banned trophy hunting in 2014, restrictions were lifted in 2019 under pressure from local communities, and the country now issues annual hunting quotas.
President Masisi explained to the German publication Bild that elephant herds were causing damage to property, consuming crops, and posing threats to residents. He expressed frustration at outsiders offering opinions from distant places like Berlin, emphasizing the sacrifices Botswana makes to preserve its wildlife for the global community.
In response to the situation, Masisi suggested that Germans should experience cohabitation with animals as they advocate for, stating this was not a trivial matter. Botswana, home to the world’s largest elephant population, has already offered elephants to Angola and Mozambique to address what Masisi sees as overpopulation. Additionally, there were threats to send elephants to London. Despite these statements, Botswana has not officially approached Germany regarding the issue.
The German environment ministry spokesperson stated that Botswana had not officially communicated its concerns. However, they emphasized ongoing discussions with African countries affected by import regulations. The ministry stressed the importance of sustainable and legal trophy importation, especially considering the significant loss of biodiversity. Germany, being a major importer of hunting trophies in the EU, requires import authorization for African elephant trophies under current regulations. Talks within the EU about stricter import measures are centered on expanding the list of protected species.
