Botswana condemned for slaughtering elephants for independence celebrations
Botswana has faced criticism from animal rights activists for authorizing the slaughter of 23 elephants to provide meat for its 60th independence anniversary celebrations. The decision has sparked concerns about the potential normalization of poaching and raised hygiene issues regarding the distribution of game meat during a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. This incident has reignited the ongoing national debate over the management of the country's large elephant population and human-wildlife conflict.
- ▪Botswana's Ministry of Environment and Tourism issued a license to hunt 23 elephants for complimentary purposes during independence festivities.
- ▪The Elephant Protection Society warned that government-sanctioned slaughter could undermine conservation efforts and encourage poaching.
- ▪Local residents and officials raised concerns about public hygiene and fair distribution after images showed people gathering around elephant carcasses.
- ▪Botswana is home to the world's largest elephant population, with more than 130,000 animals.
- ▪The government has defended regulated hunting as a method to manage elephant populations and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
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| Publication time | Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:06:28 GMT |
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Botswana condemned for slaughtering elephants for independence celebrationsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Botswana is home to the world's largest elephant population, with more than 130,000 elephants (file photo)ByWycliffe MuiaPublished7 minutes agoAnimal rights activists have criticised Botswana's decision to authorise the killing of 23 elephants to provide meat for independence celebrations.The southern African country, home to the world's largest elephant population, is holding nationwide festivities on Wednesday to mark the 60th anniversary of independence from Britain.A licence issued by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, seen by local media, authorises the hunting of 23celephants and other wild animals for "complimentary purposes".The Botswana-based Elephant…
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