Botswana president threatens to send 20,000 elephants to Germany

Botswana’s elephant population is facing an explosion after conservation efforts boosted the country’s elephant population to 130,000. AFP the report said.

In an effort to control “overpopulation”, Botswana has provided 8,000 elephants to Angola and another 500 to Mozambique.

Likewise, Botswana President Mokwezi Masisi on Tuesday threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in response to a dispute over the import of hunting trophies.

Earlier this year, Germany’s environment ministry said it was possible to set tighter limits on the import of hunting trophies over concerns about poaching.

However, Masisi raised concerns, saying such a ban would only plunge Batswanans into poverty.

“Germans should live with animals; just like you are trying to tell us. We want to offer Germany such a gift,” Masisi said, adding that he “will not take no for an answer.”

The President expressed concern over the increasing damage to property caused by elephants, with crops eaten and residents trampled.

Botswana is home to one-third of the world’s elephant population.

The country now issues annual hunting quotas, claiming it is a good source of income for the poor and reduces poaching of animals.

Germany is the EU’s largest importer of African elephant trophies.