Botswana's Threat to Send 20,000 Elephants to Germany in Trophy Hunting Dispute

Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi has threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in response to a dispute over the import of hunting trophies. He criticized the German government for seeking to ban trophy imports despite Botswana's elephant "overpopulation." Masisi argued that hunting is necessary to control the elephant population, which has grown to around 130,000, and warned that a ban on trophy imports would only impoverish Botswanans. The spat reflects wider issues around trophy hunting, with Masisi also warning against a potential hunting trophy import ban in the UK.