Botswana Reopens Hunting

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The government of Botswana announced today that it will reopen hunting after a five-year suspension in big game hunting areas in that Southern African nation. A news conference to discuss details is set for tomorrow.

"The ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism wishes to inform the public that following extensive consultations with all stakeholders, the Government of Botswana has taken a decision to lift the hunting suspension," officials announced in an invitation to the media for the upcoming news conference.

"This is outstanding news," exclaimed SCI President Paul Babaz. "It is heartening to see that the government of Botswana has taken all aspects into its careful consideration of this matter. We salute the officials in Botswana for their wise decision."

"These findings clearly show that hunting bans actually hurt wildlife conservation; hunting is the key to providing the necessary revenue to fund anti-poaching efforts and on-the-ground conservation research," SCI President Babaz continued. "This is just one more example of how hunters are the real champions of wildlife conservation and groups like HSUS and PETA simply raise money to line their own pockets instead of joining the real conservationists... hunters!"

In June 2018, Botswana's government began reviewing the hunting suspension.

"The process involved a nationwide process including holding Kgotla meetings and consulting with Local Authorities, affected communities, NGO's, tourism businesses, conservationists, researchers and other stakeholders," the government explained.

"The fundamental issue that emerged was the appreciation by citizens that they were being consulted," the government continued, "This was seen as necessary for building on the national principles of: Democracy, Development, Self-reliance, Unity and Botho (social harmony)."

The government's findings included:
  • The number and high levels of human-animal conflict and the consequent impact on livelihood was increasing
  • Predators appear to have increased and were causing a lot of damage as they kill livestock in large numbers
  • There is a negative impact of the hunting suspension on livelihoods, particularly for community-based organizations that were previously benefitting from consumptive utilization
  • The lack of capacity within the Department of Wildlife and National Parks leads to long response time to problem animal control reports
  • The general consensus from those consulted was that the hunting ban should be lifted.
"On the basis of these issues, the Government has reflected and assessed the recommendations, and lifted the suspension," the government announced.



Source: Safari Club International (SCI)
 
Be interesting to see how it gets re started, and what species may still be off limits. This was a good place for Zambezi sitatunga but it was closed to them not long after I got mine there in 1990, and before the general closure. Hopefully the numbers have recovered. Botswana is a most interesting place to hunt, and I still consider my nearly 3 weeks there in a tented camp near the delta as a highlight of my life.
 
This is one time when SCI and I agree completely - "Outstanding".
 
Glad to hear it. Hopefully, the previous outfitters will be able to restart their operations.
 
First good news I've seen in the last two weeks....................................Maybe Botswana will save its wildlife after all....FWB
 
Plans to book already to go!
 
This is good news.
 
Anxious to learn more about the hunting once the outfitters take root and start advertising!
 
It appears that it will reopen in communal areas first for elephant only. Hopefully it will move to concessions and other species from there.
 
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happy days, common sence all round.
Markcz
 
Being on our western border we are seeing massive increase in migrations of elephant from Botswana into Zimbabwe. The problem of the over-population of elephant needs to be addressed before it begins to effect our other species too.
 
Happy to see Reopening. Very lovely country. I had been there couple times. Lots of elephants, buffalo, Leopard, Lion, Hippo, Gamsbuk, Kudu, Wild dog, Hyaena.... Dreaming to back. Strongly hope that BW government is demonstrating a success hunting_based wildlife management project to fight back the antis
 
It will be interesting to see pricing.

And I assume USFWS will allow imports of elephant trophies on an individual basis, based on enhancement findings? Which I assume are near impossible to deny at this point;)

I just hope someone is informing Trump of the realities of the overpopulation of elephants there before he "Trumps" imports with a late night tweet.
 
Will defiantly be keeping my eye on what will happen and pricing. A Botswana jumbo hunt has always been a dream and would love a bull pushing over the 70# mark. It will also be interesting to see what the USA fish and game do for the import permits. I feel after elections in 2020 things will open back up a bit. If we keep the current administration. Also feel that if Botswana stays open it will help with imports for neighboring countries imports like Namibia and Zambia to import and possibly Zimbabwe as well.
I feel really lucky to probably be one of the last guys to get a elephant imported into the USA before they stopped the permits. Also feel a lot of it had to do with how well my paperwork was and the outfitter as to how well they keep there bookkeeping. A big thanks to a Ndumo and karl for that and Namibia. But I’m still looking for that once in a lifetime bull that is still wandering the Bush.
 
It will be interesting to see pricing.

And I assume USFWS will allow imports of elephant trophies on an individual basis, based on enhancement findings? Which I assume are near impossible to deny at this point;)

I just hope someone is informing Trump of the realities of the overpopulation of elephants there before he "Trumps" imports with a late night tweet.
It was always on the upper edges of pricing. Even in 1990, my full bag hunt was $750 a day! Back then you paid a license fee up front on each critter, but no trophy fee if unsuccessful.
 
Yebbo...knew it had to happen!!
Need to get myself back into Botswana for a hunt...
 
Be interesting to see how it gets re started, and what species may still be off limits. This was a good place for Zambezi sitatunga but it was closed to them not long after I got mine there in 1990, and before the general closure. Hopefully the numbers have recovered. Botswana is a most interesting place to hunt, and I still consider my nearly 3 weeks there in a tented camp near the delta as a highlight of my life.

From reading the press conference it says all previously huntable species Inc lion and leopard will available
 

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