Botswana calls for congress on effects of elephants on humans
Botswana is arguing against a moratorium on the international ivory trade and says media coverage ignores the plight of rural communities that bear the brunt of living with elephants
Botswana’s president has invited heads of state from nations with the greatest reservoir of elephants on the planet to discuss a common policy toward the management of the pachyderms, which is becoming a campaign issue before elections later in 2019. Leaders will discuss the effect of the animals on humans and the legal and illegal trade in elephant products, with the aim of agreeing on “concrete interventions to address the challenges posed”, the government said in an invitation to the May 3-7 meeting seen by Bloomberg. The summit was confirmed by environment minister Kitso Mokaila. With the Botswana Democratic Party facing its tightest election since winning power more than half a century ago, President Mokgweetsi Masisi has sought to appeal to rural voters by holding public hearings on the impact of elephants, of which Botswana has the most in the world, and pledging to lift a ban on hunting. If he follows through, he will undo one of the signature policies of his predecessor, Ia...
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