Botswana approves killing of 23 elephants for independence celebrations, drawing fury from conservationists

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026.

Botswana's government issued licences to hunt 23 elephants across districts nationwide to mark the 60th anniversary of its independence from Britain. Authorities said the meat would go to impoverished rural communities. Botswana's Elephant Protection Society warned the cull was reckless and could make surviving herds more hostile to nearby people. Botswana has one of the world's largest elephant populations, estimated at around 130,000.