Botswana threatens to send 10,000 elephants to Hyde Park in trophy hunting row

The wildlife minister of Botswana has expressed frustration and issued a provocative statement, threatening to relocate 10,000 elephants to Hyde Park in London as part of a dispute over hunting trophies between Botswana and the UK.

Botswanan officials are in London to protest against a potential ban on UK safari hunters importing trophies from their kills, as the Hunting Trophies Prohibition Bill is scheduled for its second reading in the House of Commons. Botswana, along with five other southern African nations, argues that such a ban would have detrimental effects on safari hunt revenue, wildlife conservation efforts, anti-poaching initiatives, and the livelihoods of African villagers dependent on tourism.

Dumezweni Mthimkhulu, Botswana’s wildlife minister, stated that if the British government accepts his offer of sending elephants, they should be placed in Hyde Park to allow Britons to experience living alongside these animals. He highlighted the challenges faced by Botswana due to the overwhelming elephant population, including incidents of human-elephant conflict resulting in casualties, damage to crops, and water supply issues.

Mthimkhulu criticized the proposed ban, drawing parallels with hunting practices in the UK such as deer hunting in the Highlands. He emphasized Botswana's success in wildlife conservation and expressed opposition to what he perceives as colonial interference from Britain.

The Hunting Trophies Prohibition Bill, supported in the Tory manifesto and sponsored by Labour MP John Spellar, has faced previous attempts at passage in Parliament. Spellar, in response to the southern African delegations' visit, clarified that he did agree to meet with them but the meeting did not materialize. He cited the Cecil the lion case as a catalyst for pushing for the ban on importing hunting trophies.

The contentious issue underscores the differing perspectives on wildlife management and conservation between Botswana and the UK, with both sides advocating for their respective positions on trophy hunting and its impact on local communities and ecosystems.