However however however … let’s say the elephants did finally end up in Germany — which at the start prompted Botswana’s ire through shifting to usher in a ban on trophy-hunting imports, thereby nullifying a well-liked population-reduction approach — the place will be the ultimate spot for them to reside?
We requested knowledgeable, Nuremberg Zoo director Dag Encke, for some solutions at the Botswana govt’s conundrum and Germany’s elephant-hosting suitability.
“The issue is so giant and complicated that Mr. Masisi is disenchanted — for excellent causes — concerning the Western simplification of imaginable answers, which might even be utterly counterproductive,” Encke informed POLITICO.
Encke mentioned he understands Botswana’s “catch 22 situation,” as the rustic is attempting to each offer protection to its natural world and its communities which can be suffering from the overpopulation.
Banning the import of trophies, he mentioned, would make “0 contribution to species coverage, however simplest creates one’s personal ethical well-being,” including that, “trophy searching has change into a extremely environment friendly instrument for global and in particular southern African species conservation.” He identified that the apply may be counseled through the Global Union for Conservation of Nature.
“There are an estimated 130,000 elephants residing in Botswana,” Encke mentioned. “However the ecological sporting capability for the rustic is estimated at 60,000 animals.”