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 Ambassador of Botswana to the U.S., David John Newman - [email protected]

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PETITION CLOSED

PETITION TARGET: Ambassador of Botswana to the U.S., David John Newman

UPDATE (4/28/2022): Sadly, Botswana lifted its 5-year ban on elephant hunting in May 2019, according to the New York Times. The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism announced the decision based on a consensus of consultations stating that the population rate is not unsustainable and an increase in human-elephant conflict. We thank everyone you signed this petition and we will continue to fight for all animals. — Lady Freethinker 

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Botswana will go from a safe haven for elephants to a slaughterhouse if the government moves ahead with plans to lift a ban on hunting and turn them into canned pet food.

These majestic and endangered creatures have been protected from trophy hunters since 2014, and Botswana was applauded for its conservation and ecotourism initiatives.

But now, the government says there are too many elephants causing conflict with people. Their solution?

Slaughter them with legal culls and hunts, and make a bigger profit from their deaths by turning their corpses into dog food.

These shocking proposals stem from a report that uses inflated population estimates. The government claims there are 230,000 elephants in Botswana, while conservationists put the number closer to 130,000.

Poachers continue to kill increasing numbers every year and the population is still in decline.

It is unthinkable that the government of Botswana want to put one-third of the remaining African elephants at risk, and further profit from their deaths by mincing them into pet food.

The elephants of Botswana should be respected and protected. Sign this petition asking the Ambassador of Botswana to the U.S., David John Newman, to urge his government to protect their iconic elephants, not turn them into canned meat.