By CHRIS DIAZ
Africa is home to some 415,000 elephants, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) — the population having been largely ruined by poaching for ivory.
Over 60 million tourists visit Africa every year to see the beautiful wildlife and other tourist attractions earning the continent billions of dollars and creating much needed employment.
But Botswana, which has 130,000 elephants, the world’s largest population, has lifted the ban on elephant hunting, citing growing conflict between humans and the animals, which at times destroy crops.
The move has angered thousands of angry conservationists who believe that lifting the ban launches another season for the rapid decline in elephant numbers on the continent.
Sadly, most African countries continue to see elephants as an endangered species that is at risk of being killed for trophy hunting which ultimately opens up the deadly ivory trade.
The decision also risks damaging Botswana’s international reputation for conservation and affect its revenues from tourism, the second largest source of foreign income for the country after diamond mining…Read More>>
