{"id":644424,"date":"2019-05-23T11:58:09","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T11:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"
\"Mokgweetsi<\/div>

Botswana, home to almost one-third o"},"modified":"2019-05-23T11:58:09","modified_gmt":"2019-05-23T11:58:09","slug":"botswana-lifts-ban-on-elephant-hunting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2019\/05\/23\/botswana-lifts-ban-on-elephant-hunting\/","title":{"rendered":"Botswana lifts ban on elephant hunting"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Mokgweetsi<\/div>\n

Botswana, home to almost one-third of Africa\u2019s elephants, lifted a ban on elephant hunting on Wednesday saying the population had increased and farmers\u2019 livelihoods were being impacted.<\/p>\n

Conservationists estimate the southern African country has about 130 000 elephants, but some parliamentarians say the number is much higher and causes problems for small-scale farmers.<\/p>\n

A prohibition on elephant hunting was introduced in 2014 by then-president Ian Khama, a keen conservationist, after surveys showed declining wildlife populations.<\/p>\n

However, the ruling Botswana Democratic Party has been lobbying to overturn the ban saying elephants have become unmanageably large in some areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government of Botswana has taken a decision to lift the hunting suspension,\u201d the environment ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ministry would like to reiterate that it will work with all stakeholders to ensure that reinstatement of hunting is done in an orderly and ethical manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

It said the return of wildlife hunting would take place in accordance with laws and regulations governing wildlife conservation, hunting and licensing, but did not elaborate.<\/p>\n

Onkokame Kitso Mokaila, minister of environment, natural resources conservation and tourism, will hold a news conference on Thursday to give details.<\/p>\n

President Mokgweetsi Masisi set up a committee in June last year to consider the hunting ban.<\/p>\n

At the time, the committee chair said it recommended, \u201ca legal framework that will enable the growth of a safari hunting industry and manage the country\u2019s elephant population within the historic range\u201d.<\/p>\n

The committee also called for \u201cregular but limited\u201d elephant cull.<\/p>\n

Botswana, a mostly arid country the size of France, has a population of 2.3 million people and its vast tracts of remote wilderness make it a magnet for foreign tourists who want to view wildlife.<\/p>\n

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