Botswana Bans Hunting

Botswana has announced that hunting will be banned from January 2014, the interests of non-consumptive tourism (photo-safaris and game viewing) have won out over sport hunting. The view that the decline in wildlife poses e a genuine threat to both the conservation of Botswana’s natural heritage and the long-term health of the local tourist industry has prevailed,

Permanent Secretary Edmont Moabi has been reported as saying
“This comes as a realisation that the shooting of wild game purely for sport and trophies is no longer seen to be compatible with either our national commitment to conserve and preserve local fauna or the long-term growth of the local tourism industry,”

There will still be limited traditional hunting for some local communities within designated wildlife management areas.