Botswana condemned for slaughtering elephants for independence celebrations

Botswana has drawn criticism after approving the slaughter of 23 elephants to supply meat for nationwide festivities marking the 60th anniversary of independence from Britain. The southern African nation, home to the world’s largest elephant population—estimated at more than 130,000 animals—issued a licence through the Ministry of Environment and Tourism permitting the hunt of 23 elephants and other wild animals for what the document describes as “commemorative purposes.” Animal rights activists have condemned the move. The Botswana‑based Elephant Protection Society warned that the decision could undermine conservation efforts. Its president, Oaitse Nawa, told the BBC that elephants “person mislaid their societal structures due to the fact that they are ever being pushed from 1 spot to different by gunshots,” a statement he said reflects the lasting trauma caused by repeated gunfire. Nawa added that using elephants for celebratory feasting risks normalising poaching by suggesting that killing the animals is acceptable when sanctioned by