Botswana condemned for slaughtering elephants for independence celebrations

What the report says

Botswana’s decision to authorise the hunting of 23 elephants and other wild animals for Independence Day feasts has drawn criticism from animal-rights and conservation voices, according to BBC Africa. The government issued a licence allowing the animals to be taken for “complimentary purposes” as the country marked 60 years since independence from Britain with nationwide celebrations on Wednesday.

The BBC reports that the move has renewed debate over how Botswana manages its large elephant population. Botswana is home to more than 130,000 elephants, and officials have long argued that regulated hunting can help address human-wildlife conflict and generate income for local communities. The country banned trophy hunting in 2014, later reversed that policy, and hunting has continued under President Duma Boko, who took office after winning the 2024 election.

Critics say the decision could damage conservation efforts and send the wrong message about elephant protection. The Botswana-based Elephant Protection Society argued that celebratory slaughter could encourage poaching, while some residents also raised hygiene concerns because of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak affecting livestock controls. Local media images showed people gathering around carcasses in several districts, and one lawmaker said distribution of meat should be better organised and fairer.

The issue matters beyond the holiday itself because it touches on Botswana’s broader balancing act between wildlife conservation, tourism, and the pressures faced by rural communities living near elephants.