Botswana's Biggest Elephant was Killed for its Almost 8-Foot-Long Tusksby Trophy Hunters

Botswana's biggest elephant was killed for its almost 8-foot-long tusks by trophy hunters.

According to Wildlife At Risk International, the elephant had 200 pounds of ivory in its tusks and was the largest hunted in the country since 1996.

The trophy hunter came to Botswana and paid $50,000 to take part in the hunt near the country's northern border, according to The New York Times.

Sparking Outrage

Photographs of the trophy hunter standing beside the massive tusks have sparked outrage on the internet.

Elephants are a vulnerable species in Africa, with Botswana having one of the highest populations. According to National Geographic, the country possesses about 130,000 elephants, which make up about a third of Africa's surviving population.

Poaching for ivory has increased in recent years. Figurines, decorations, and other items are commonly made of ivory. It is in high demand in China and is mainly considered a prestige symbol.

To better safeguard Botswana's wildlife, former President Ian Khama instituted a trophy hunting ban across the country in 2014. However, Khama's successor, Mokgweetsi Masisi, lifted the restriction in 2019.

Also Read: After Losing Half of its Trunk in a Poacher's Trap, Baby Elephant Tragically Died  

Controlling Conflicts

In an effort to control human-wildlife conflicts, Masisi revoked the prohibition. Elephants may concern locals in some locations, destroying crops and infrastructure. Large bulls, in particular, may be dangerous to people if they get too close to inhabited areas.

The deceased tusker elephant has been an "iconic attraction" for tourists in the nation, according to Khama's Facebook page.

"How does it benefit our dwindling tourists due to inadequate policies?" "Our tourism is centered on animals," he explained. "Without wildlife, there will be no tourism, no tourists, no employment, and no cash." Now, this! Incompetence and poor leadership have nearly wiped off the rhino population."

The hunt was documented on the Facebook page of Blood Origins, a non-profit that supports the hunting business. According to the organization, the elephant was slain in accordance with Botswana's "elephant management plan," a government project aimed at managing the country's population.

The website criticized the former president's claim that the elephant was a tourist attraction, claiming that "no ecotourism businesses" operate in the region.

"In Botswana, elephant numbers have reached their maximum point and have stabilized. Hunting is not a method of population control. "Hunting is a strategy for reducing tiny levels of human-wildlife conflict while also providing meat and revenue in locations where both are likely scarce," according to the Facebook post.

According to Africa Geographic CEO Simon Espley, the area where the hunt took place is considered a "terror zone" for elephants.

In a statement, Espley stated, "Surgical eradication of Africa's surviving large-tusked elephants by trophy hunters would not alleviate any human-elephant conflict or habitat difficulties."

"The volume of elephants hunted is not sufficient to reduce elephant populations. Instead, the likely result of the selection of large-tusked elephants as trophies will be to hasten the disappearance of tuskers from the African landscape."

Elephant Tusks

The tusks of elephants (in African elephants, they can be found on both males and females) are elongated incisor teeth, with one third hidden from view and embedded in the elephant's head. African elephant tusks are mainly used for protection, digging, lifting objects, and gathering food.

According to travel company Safari Ventures, African elephant tusks can range from 1.5-2.5 meters in length (males tend to have larger ones) and weigh around 23-45 kg each.

Related Article: Herd Matriarch Helped Struggling Baby Elephant Whose Mom Was Briefly Sidetracked During Journey

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