Botswana threatening to send 20,000 elephants to Germany

Source– This post on Botswana threatening to send 20,000 elephants to Germany is based on the article “Why Botswana threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany” published in “The Indian Express” on 10th April 2024.

Why in the News?

Recently, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany. The statement came after Germany proposed to enact stricter limits on the import of trophies from hunting animals.

Why there are so many elephants in Botswana?

1. The country’s political stability and low human population facilitate effective wildlife management.

2. Following a surge in poaching due to conflict in Namibia and Angola, elephants ceased to cross the Chobe River, opting to remain within the safer confines of Botswana instead.

3. Botswana has implemented stringent anti-poaching measures, including a ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy initiated in 2013 against suspected poachers, and a ban on trophy hunting introduced in 2014.

4. The country also imposed a ban on trophy hunting that previously took place under an official government license.

Human animal conflict

1. Elephants are causing problems in rural areas by damaging homes, eating crops, drinking from water pipes, and occasionally killing people and livestock.

2. Their large numbers also threaten other wildlife species, leading to loss of biodiversity and environmental damage as they destroy trees and consume a lot of water, reducing resources available for other animals.

3. Steps Taken to Manage Elephant Populations:

a) Botswana has been relocating elephants to other nations. For instance, Botswana transferred about 8,000 elephants to Angola and, in 2022, sent 500 elephants to Mozambique.

b) Botswana reinstated trophy hunting in 2019 after a previous ban.

c) Reintroducing trophy hunting not only helps control the elephant population but also significantly benefits the local economy by attracting international hunters.

d)  Trophy hunting annually contributes approximately $250 million to South Africa’s economy and sustains 17,000 jobs.

4. Dilemma associated with trophy hunting:

a)  Western countries and animal rights activists argue that trophy hunting is unethical and contributes to the decline of already endangered species.

b) Critics contend that the economic benefits of trophy hunting are overstated and that much of the revenue does not reach the local communities due to corruption.

5. Benefits of Trophy Hunting:

a) Regulated trophy hunting is advocated by some as beneficial to the targeted species themselves.

b) The funds from affluent hunters are used for conservation purposes and are also shared with local communities, helping to prevent habitat destruction and enhance animal protection.

c) Trophy hunting accounts for up to 0.03% of the GDP in eight critical African countries.

About Botswana

1. Botswana is a landlocked nation in Southern Africa, is predominantly covered by the Kalahari Desert, which spans about 70% of its territory.

2. The country hosts the largest population of elephants in the world, with an estimated 130,000 elephants.

3. It is Africa’s oldest continuous democracy.

UPSC Syllabus: Environment