Brief
Botswana authorises killing of 23 elephants for independence celebrations
The government said the meat will feed needy rural communities, while opponents warn it could increase human‑elephant conflict.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Gaborone, Botswana – The government approved the killing of 23 elephants as part of the country's 60th independence day celebrations this week, according to a New York Post report published on 2 October 2026.
What happened
Licences to hunt the 23 elephants were issued across several districts, with each district receiving a share of the quota. The cull is intended to provide meat for needy rural communities, officials said on Friday. The programme coincides with the celebration of Botswana's 60th anniversary of independence from Britain.
What the reports add
The article notes that Botswana lifted its ban on elephant hunting in 2019 because of a burgeoning elephant population, now estimated at around 130,000 – the largest in Africa. Annual hunting quotas have varied between 200 and more than 400 elephants in recent years. The government also authorised the killing of dozens of antelope as part of the same initiative.
What was said
Botswana’s Elephant Protection Society called the decision “reckless” and warned that shooting one elephant could make the rest defensive. The society said the cull might provoke herds to become more hostile toward nearby people.
How it came about
Botswana has long struggled with human‑wildlife conflict, with farmers reporting crop damage and injuries from elephants. The government argues controlled hunting quotas help manage numbers and limit such conflicts. Previous criticism arose in 2024 when then‑President Mokgweetsi Masisi offered to send tens of thousands of elephants to the UK and Germany in response to trophy‑hunting concerns.
Key facts
- Botswana approved the killing of 23 elephants for its independence celebrations. (nypost.com)
- The cull is intended to provide meat for needy rural communities. (nypost.com)
- Botswana's elephant population is estimated at around 130,000, the largest in Africa. (nypost.com)
- Annual hunting quotas have ranged from 200 to over 400 elephants in recent years. (nypost.com)
- Botswana lifted its ban on elephant hunting in 2019. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Botswana approves killing of 23 elephants for independence celebrations”
