Botswana has authorised the killing of 23 elephants to provide meat for nationwide independence celebrations marking the country's 60th anniversary of independence from Britain. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism issued a licence for the hunting of 23 elephants and other wild animals for "complimentary purposes".
Animal rights activists have criticised the decision. Oaitse Nawa, chairman of the Botswana-based Elephant Protection Society, warned that the move could undermine conservation efforts and encourage poaching by creating an impression that government-sanctioned elephant killing is acceptable.
The game meat is expected to be served as part of traditional feasting. Local media published images showing residents gathering around elephant carcasses and sharing meat in different parts of Botswana. An MP in Chobe, Simasiku Mapulanga, raised concerns about the distribution method, suggesting meat should be processed into packages for better hygiene and fairer access.
The decision has reignited a long-running debate in Botswana regarding the management of its elephant population, which numbers over 130,000. While the government defends regulated hunting as a method of population control, human-wildlife conflict management, and income generation for communities, conservation organisations have questioned its sustainability.