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April 2, 2024 11:59 p.m.
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The president of Botswana threatened to send 20 elephants to Germany, in reaction to a political dispute between the two countries, the “BBC” reports.
Earlier this year, Germany’s Environment Ministry said there should be stricter restrictions on trophy hunting.
And Botswana’s president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has told German media that this will only impoverish the people of Botswana. He said elephant numbers had skyrocketed as a result and hunting “helped keep it under control”.
“Germans should live with animals, as they try to tell us,” Masisi told the German newspaper “Bild.”
Botswana is home to a third of the world’s elephant population. More than 130 thousand elephants live in Botswana.
Botswana’s president has said the herd is causing property damage, devouring crops and trampling residents.
Botswana has previously given 8,000 elephants to countries such as Angola and has offered hundreds more to Mozambique as it seeks to reduce its elephant population.
“We would like to offer such a gift to Germany,” Masisi said, adding that this is not a joke and that he will not take no for an answer.
Botswana banned trophy hunting in 2014, but lifted restrictions in 2019 after facing pressure from local communities.
2024-04-02 22:57:49
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