Animal rights activists have criticised Botswana’s decision to authorise the killing of 23 elephants to provide meat for independence celebrations.
The southern African country, home to the world’s largest elephant population, is holding nationwide festivities on Wednesday to mark the 60th anniversary of independence from Britain.
A licence issued by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, seen by local media, authorises the hunting of 23celephants and other wild animals for “complimentary purposes”.
The Botswana-based Elephant Protection Society warns the decision could undermine conservation, with its chairman Oaitse Nawa telling the BBC elephants needed greater protection.
He warned that slaughtering elephants for celebratory feasting could encourage poaching by creating the impression that killing elephants is acceptable when sanctioned by government.
