Botswana’s hunting revenues nearly doubled in 2024, earning $4 million—up from $2.7 million in 2023—despite rising international opposition to wildlife trophy imports. The surge came largely from elephant hunting licenses, with funds supporting conservation and community projects in wildlife regions. However, countries like the UK, Canada, and Belgium are moving to ban trophy imports, sparking fears of economic fallout for local communities that rely on hunting tourism. Despite the government’s stance that it benefits communities, some conservation groups have argued that hunting revenues don’t significantly improve citizens’ lives. They have also raised concerns that hunting these animals changes their behavior, leading to more human-wildlife conflict. Nevertheless, Botswana, home to over 130,000 elephants, defends its sustainable hunting policy as a necessary tool for population control and rural empowerment.
Source: VOA