Why are conservationists alarmed about Botswana's biggest elephant hunt?

"While the government says the controversial practice is needed to manage the population of elephants, critics say it will exacerbate human-wildlife tensions. Conservationists have raised the alarm about the Botswana government's decision to raise its annual trophy-hunting quota for elephants, reigniting the debate over how the country should manage the world's largest elephant population. Botswana, a largely dry nation which is home to 2.3 million people, has more than 130,000 elephants, nearly one-third of all elephants in Africa."

"The African continent is home to some 415,000 elephants of the world's 460,000 elephants. The rest of the world's elephants are in Asia. list of 3 itemsend of list In 2019, the government lifted its five-year moratorium on elephant hunting to keep the elephant population in check and help generate revenue for rural communities. However, conservationists and scientists warn that the sharp increase in quota numbers recently announced risks undermining the long-term health of elephant populations as well as exacerbating human-wildlife conflict."

"Speaking to Al Jazeera, Oaitse Nawa, founder of the Botswana-based Elephant Protection Society (EPS), said the number of elephants being hunted is too high and called on the government to revisit this issue. A preliminary government draft indicates that the quota for trophy hunting for 2026 has been raised to 430 elephants, up from 410 in 2025. Trophy hunting refers to the practice of legally killing wild animals, such as elephants, lions, and rhinoceroses."

Botswana increased its annual trophy-hunting quota for elephants, raising concerns about impacts on the world’s largest elephant population. The country hosts more than 130,000 elephants, nearly one-third of Africa’s total, within a population of 2.3 million people. The government lifted a five-year moratorium in 2019, citing population control and revenue for rural communities, and a preliminary draft raised the 2026 quota to 430 elephants from 410. Conservationists and scientists warn that higher quotas risk undermining long-term elephant health and escalating human-wildlife conflict, while some stakeholders defend hunting as a management and economic tool.

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