Animal advocacy organization Peace 4 Animals, World Animal News, and other partners have secured a pledge of $1 million for the conservation of elephants and other wildlife in Botswana — if the government reinstates its elephant hunting ban.
In a devastating move for the majestic pachyderms, the government of Botswana confirmed last month that they are lifting the ban on elephant hunting that has been in effect for over five years.
“There is no justifiable reason to allow the hunting and killing of elephants and other threatened species; especially in Botswana where people worldwide travel to have the privilege of viewing these majestic creatures who are roaming free in their natural habitat,” stated Katie Cleary, founder of Peace 4 Animals and its news network World Animal News.
“We were appalled and saddened that the government of Botswana made the devastating decision which puts threatened elephants and other endangered wildlife at an even greater risk of becoming extinct,” she continued. “It is for this reason that we, along with our Peace 4 Animals’ partners, have secured a pledge of one million dollars towards Botswana’s conservation efforts which is contingent upon the government reversing their decision to lift the ban.”
Last June, Botswanian President Mokgweetsi Masisi tasked a newly-formed committee with reconsidering the hunting of endangered wildlife, including elephants. After reviewing the committee’s report, which cites the need to “manage” the elephant population and its “impact” on farmers’ livelihoods, President Masisi decided to lift the hunting ban.
The report may have also cited the possibility of a safari hunting industry as a potential reason for ending the ban, according to a press release by Peace 4 Animals. Many vacationers are unlikely to visit Botswana in the absence of a hunting ban, however, since the ability to see elephants in the wild is a driving factor of its current tourism industry.
Indeed, the cruel and deadly decision to life the hunting ban stands to have crippling effects on Africa’s dwindling elephant herds. Due primarily to ivory poaching, the continent’s elephant population has dropped to just 415,000, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The reinstatement of the hunting ban in Botswana and the $1 million pledge would help restore the highly-threatened species.
Make sure that $1 million doesn’t find its way into President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s pockets.
I have a feeling that his pockets are what got the ban lifted in the first place.
Not only did he life the ban, he cut most of the funding for game wardens to fight poachers.
And all in the first few months of his presidency. Not a good start, by any means.
Sorry, should be LIFT the ban.
Fingers fumble when I’m a bit angry 🙁
Please spare us the racist stereotypes; Masisi is on a campaign to root out corruption that flourished previously. There has been no cut in support for anti-poaching, you are probably confused by the fake news about anti-poaching units being disarmed.
Ban the hunting of elephants! I sometimes feel men who enjoy hunting may have a problem with their masculinity!!
I pray for elephant be safe no more hunt animals I hate hunt
The photographic game viewing tourists will still be able to see just as many elephants as before; the number of elephants that will be hunted is way to small to have any effect on their overall numbers and none of the hunting will take place anywhere near the prime wildlife areas where elephants and tourists congregate. The rural people of Botswana do not have the luxury of viewing elephants from the safety of a safari vehicle; they fearfully watch them from ground level in their streets and fields, and hope that today is not the day that an elephant kills another person.
Botswana’s record of elephant conservation is exemplary – that is why they are custodians of more of them than any other country, a status and responsibility that long predates the hunting ban. Because Botswana is so good at elephant conservation, lifting the ban will not increase the danger of elephants becoming extinct by even the tiniest margin.
There is plenty of work to be done to mitigate the conflict that arises when people and elephants share living space, and to ensure that non-lethal alternatives that actually work are place to protect people and elephants from one another. Your one million dollars could make a significant contribution to that effort, and save more elephant lives than will ever fall to hunters if you would donate it without strings attached.
Let’s DO THE RIGHT THING — REINSTATE the HUNTING BAN in Botswana — save the Elephants and other magnificent Animals — $1 million PLEDGE will help this wonderful cause AND will RESTORE ALL highly-threatened species.
Please ban hunting. These animals are part of our nature and the balance of earth
Monstrous stop this cruelty now
Botswana and alot of other African countries are looking at selling their stock piles of poached illegal Ivory and so looks like they are wanting to make Money fast without the Real Consideration of Elephant Kills on the Verge of Extinction.
Africa is being manipulated by the Trophy Hunting Industry by their corrupt government with no Animal conservation needs
Elephants in southern Africa are nowhere near the verge of extinction, and the ivory stockpiles in southern Africa are perfectly legal.
YES!!!!!