Botswana Threatens to Export 20,000 Elephants to Germany: A Serious Proposal Amid Hunting Trophy Dispute

Botswana has threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in response to Germany's proposed ban on the import of hunting trophies.

The dispute arose from Germany's concerns about poaching and the potential impact on conservation efforts.

Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi argues that the ban would impoverish Botswana and that conservation efforts have led to an increase in elephant population, resulting in man-animal conflict.

Germany is the EU's largest importer of African elephant trophies.

Masisi urged Germans to "live together with the animals" and warned that this was not a joke.

Botswana, which has the largest elephant population in the world, resumed trophy hunting in 2019 after a ban in 2014 due to increasing human-elephant conflicts.

The country's President, Masisi, stated that elephants have been damaging homes, crops, and even harming people.

He criticized those opposing Botswana's decision, including Germans, and suggested sending excess elephants to Germany as a solution.

Masisi also mentioned previous offers to send elephants to Angola and Mozambique.

An African leader criticized Germany for its treatment of elephants, suggesting they should be allowed to roam freely in Africa and offering them as a gift.

The German government had not raised concerns with Botswana about the issue.

In response, Germany's environment minister signaled an openness to inspecting wildlife protection in Botswana if invited.

In March, Botswana had threatened to send 10,000 elephants to Hyde Park in London in protest against a potential UK ban on importing trophies from safari hunters.