*27 million USD (337 million) raised from hunting quota so far
Botswana has earned $2.7 million (approximately 337 million Pula) from elephant hunting this year, more than double the last full hunting season 7 years ago. This year the government issued 287 licenses for elephant hunting. The hunting season in Botswana runs annually between April and September.
Earlier this year, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Philda Kereng told Parliament that hunting revenues rose from about $1.3 million (about 16 million Pula) in 2014.
The licences are issued by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. According to the Director Dr. Kabelo Senyatso, the licences are sold to safari companies operating in the country and through them made available to international trophy hunters.
Senyatso indicated that this past December, Botswana issued licences for the killing of 83 elephants. He emphasised that the proceeds from licence sales are to be used for animal welfare and other conservation projects.
Botswana's decision to lift the ban on elephant hunting in 2019 sparked international outrage among conservationists and animal rights activists.
Government defends hunting by pointing to the benefits for the local human population as it earns Botswana money and also mitigates human-wildlife conflict. Senyatso noted that the approximate elephant density per square kilometre in Botswana statistically represents 1.2 elephants, which have to share water and land with people dependent on agriculture.
"Botswana has a good reputation for both nature and animal conservation. While the number of elephants is declining in many African regions, in Botswana elephant numbers have risen from about 50, 000 in 1991 to roughly 150, 000 today - almost a third of Africa’s total elephant population.
“This causes some problems for both people and land resources as there isn't enough food, water and land," he said.
Senyatso said that the implementation of strategic actions recommended in the Elephant Management Plan of 2021 to 2026 and other hunting reforms that the ministry has instituted are also expected to further increase revenues to communities in the future, such as long-term agreements with hunting communities, direct sale of hunting quotas, to mention a few.
He also noted that "special elephant hunting quotas are allocated to areas with high incidences of conflict between humans and the pachyderms. Some of the funds from elephant hunting are used in programmes meant to reduce such conflict. The rest of the proceeds are used in community development projects."
Elephant hunting will be implemented in citizen hunting areas, community areas and concessions based on a quota system, Senyatso noted.
He added that it is important for people to follow the developed Hunting Guidelines on how hunting will be implemented in the country.
According to Senyatso, it is anticipated that the issuance of hunting quotas for elephants will reduce conflict by driving elephants away from conflict hotspot areas.
"Other measures agreed by the government to help reduce conflict include rehabilitation and erection of elephant-proof fences in hotspot areas.
“Government also continues to implement other measures such as the drilling of additional water points for wildlife in protected areas and wildlife management areas to reduce movement of elephants into settlements," he said.
Botswana opened the hunting privilege to international hunters - who pay up to $43,000 (P537, 000) to shoot a single elephant - in 2019, amidst controversy and criticism for the sport, which animal activists insist is a form of animal cruelty and could lead to the possible extinction of certain animals.
Earlier this year, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Philda Kereng told Parliament that hunting revenues rose from about $1.3 million (about 16 million Pula) in 2014.
The licences are issued by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. According to the Director Dr. Kabelo Senyatso, the licences are sold to safari companies operating in the country and through them made available to international trophy hunters.
Senyatso indicated that this past December, Botswana issued licences for the killing of 83 elephants. He emphasised that the proceeds from licence sales are to be used for animal welfare and other conservation projects.
Botswana's decision to lift the ban on elephant hunting in 2019 sparked international outrage among conservationists and animal rights activists.
Government defends hunting by pointing to the benefits for the local human population as it earns Botswana money and also mitigates human-wildlife conflict. Senyatso noted that the approximate elephant density per square kilometre in Botswana statistically represents 1.2 elephants, which have to share water and land with people dependent on agriculture.
"Botswana has a good reputation for both nature and animal conservation. While the number of elephants is declining in many African regions, in Botswana elephant numbers have risen from about 50, 000 in 1991 to roughly 150, 000 today - almost a third of Africa’s total elephant population.
“This causes some problems for both people and land resources as there isn't enough food, water and land," he said.
Senyatso said that the implementation of strategic actions recommended in the Elephant Management Plan of 2021 to 2026 and other hunting reforms that the ministry has instituted are also expected to further increase revenues to communities in the future, such as long-term agreements with hunting communities, direct sale of hunting quotas, to mention a few.
He also noted that "special elephant hunting quotas are allocated to areas with high incidences of conflict between humans and the pachyderms. Some of the funds from elephant hunting are used in programmes meant to reduce such conflict. The rest of the proceeds are used in community development projects."
Elephant hunting will be implemented in citizen hunting areas, community areas and concessions based on a quota system, Senyatso noted.
He added that it is important for people to follow the developed Hunting Guidelines on how hunting will be implemented in the country.
According to Senyatso, it is anticipated that the issuance of hunting quotas for elephants will reduce conflict by driving elephants away from conflict hotspot areas.
"Other measures agreed by the government to help reduce conflict include rehabilitation and erection of elephant-proof fences in hotspot areas.
“Government also continues to implement other measures such as the drilling of additional water points for wildlife in protected areas and wildlife management areas to reduce movement of elephants into settlements," he said.
Botswana opened the hunting privilege to international hunters - who pay up to $43,000 (P537, 000) to shoot a single elephant - in 2019, amidst controversy and criticism for the sport, which animal activists insist is a form of animal cruelty and could lead to the possible extinction of certain animals.
