Botswana bans sports hunters after Cecil killing

Saturday 1 August 2015 - 10:18am



File: Botswana Government Spokesperson Jeff Ramsay said they've learnt with deep concern about the killing of the collared and protected lion and commended Zimbabwe for the way it handled the matter.

JOHANNESBURG – The Government of Botswana made it clear on Friday that sports hunters would not be welcome in its country as it lamented the killing of Zimbabwe’s Cecil the lion by American dentist Walter James Palmer.

Government spokesperson Jeff Ramsay said sports hunting had been banned in Botswana and last year the government had also moved to ensure that Botswana’s lions and other large carnivores were not exported to South Africa or any other country for so-called “canned hunting”.

Ramsay said his government had learnt with deep concern about the killing of the collared and protected lion which it understood had been lured from Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park.

“We commend the concerned authorities for acting swiftly and arresting the culprits,” Ramsay said in a statement. “We remain hopeful that they will all be prosecuted for carrying out this unjustified act.

“It is our stern belief that safari hunting of threatened species such as lions has the potential to undermine our regional anti-poaching efforts as it encourages illegal trade which in turn promotes poaching.

“To this end, individuals partaking in such sport hunting expeditions will not be welcome in Botswana.”

Ramsay clarified his statement in an interview by saying that sports hunting had been banned.

“Last year we also moved to close any loopholes in the export of our lions etc for canned hunting in your country (South Africa) or elsewhere.”

He referred to a statement of the Botswana Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism which said: “Botswana is opposed to ‘canned hunting’, the practice in which large carnivores such as lions or other wildlife species are raised in captivity and hunted in small camps with no room for escape or to elude the hunter.

“These animals are often raised in inhumane conditions in close contact with humans. The Government of Botswana is committed to conserving our biodiversity; large carnivores included and does not tolerate cruelty to our wildlife in any form.

“Efforts are underway to strengthen legislation to ensure that this abhorrent and unethical practice does not find its way into Botswana under any guise. Botswana will closely scrutinise all requests to export wildlife to any destination.”

Asked to confirm that all sports hunting was banned in Botswana, Ramsay said: “We are not giving out any licences for sport hunting here. The only avenue for potential abuse would be on game farms, but yes sport hunting is effectively banned.”

What a shame. We've lost Botswana and Zimbabwe is not looking good either. Where are the hunting companies P.R. firms trying to combat this onslaught from anti-hunters? I hope Botswana doesn't go down the tubes like Kenya did.

Idiots! I would guess that hunting on private land/farms/properties is still legal though as before. Unbelievable! Surprised we don't see a lot of people heading to the local docs to get their knees reattached!

Am I missing something? Is there an actual change here, or are they just announcing what was already in place?

I thought that you could only hunt on private land now in Botswana?

I believe last year was the last for public land hunting and this is ending the private property hunts. Probably need a Ph/outfitter in Botswana to clarify all of this.

A world gone crazy!

James.Grage said:

Asked to confirm that all sports hunting was banned in Botswana, Ramsay said: “We are not giving out any licences for sport hunting here. The only avenue for potential abuse would be on game farms, but yes sport hunting is effectively banned.”

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I guess the quote above is what is confusing me?

Bsums said:

I believe last year was the last for public land hunting and this is ending the private property hunts. Probably need a Ph/outfitter in Botswana to clarify all of this.

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They can keep it folks! When the flow of cash other countries stops they will likely change their minds. It's my understanding that Botswana has so many elephants that the destruction of habitat by large herds is taking its toll. Let's see how the Minister takes care of starving elephants.

They won't take care of them. Just not let it be reported on when they start to die off.

James.Grage said:

Asked to confirm that all sports hunting was banned in Botswana, Ramsay said: “We are not giving out any licences for sport hunting here. The only avenue for potential abuse would be on game farms, but yes sport hunting is effectively banned.”

Click to expand...

Definitely hard to tell for sure if he is referring to new measures or a rehash of the BS that was already in place. No way to tell when a bureaucrat such as this starts spewing crap. All I hear is bullshit.
Either way, Botswana seems well and truly screwed and unfortunately we're going to have a front row seat to watch the carnage.
When the soil is gone because all the vegetation is gone and the elephants are gone and no other animals can live there 'cuz nothing will grow without dirt what are the bunny huggers going to do then? Oh yeah, blame the sportsmen and move on to the next social media witch hunt.
As long as there is someone to point a finger at, right or wrong, they will be happy. Forget about doing anything meaningful or actually making decisions based on facts and science. No, just give them someone to berate and feel superior to and they will be happier than pigs in shit.

He does contradict himself. The only hunting allowed is private properties yet he says they will continue on game farms, aka private property? It may not be anything new but a publicity stunt.

Where is SpikeT?

Good question. Haven't seen hide nor hair of him for a bit. Uh-oh, you don't suppose he finally pissed off Princess Rocky a wee bit too much do you?
@spike.t , you ok?

spikes in Zambia

He is at Takeri.

standing by the fire pitt , when I rang

Um, uh well uh, oh uh, duh, duh uh oh uh.... Oops. Duh..

Botswana's stupidity is painting a desolate future for wildlife in the country. It all started with the elephant and the foolishness continues.

No need to ban hunting , just do what the greenies do here in /new Zealand .
Pour tons Of 1080 posion out of the sky from helicopters , all over the parks and any bloody bush they can find in the name of pest control .
kills every thing . nothing left to hunt .

Allow me to clarify things in Botswana. The officials has merely underlined what is already in place. All hunting on public land is effectively stopped...not even the San people is allowed to hunt.

Hunting on private game farms is still allowed. It is also allowed for farmers to shoot problem animals as lion and elephant that kill livestock and/or brake down fences ..

I shot 2 problem elephants on such a farm in june. It was hazzle-free to bring in guns if all the paperwork was rightely done..

Elephant population is totally out of control in Bots...with ele migrating into areas in the Kalahari that has not seen them before...the number on ele is believed to be approx. 200.000..

It is clear that the positive attitude that prevailed towards ele by farmers is more or less gone. The animals brake down fences every night and makes it neccesary to keep permanent crews to mend them, both on cattle and gamefarms..

If hunting + culling is not done I predict poaching to soare, destruction of top soil layers, destruction of flora by ele to the point of making problems for other plant eaters, etc etc.

This is pure madness by Ian Khama and his government..!