Poachers gun down P12bn of Botswana wildlife value

Friday, April 17, 2026 | 100 Views |

Botswana’s fauna being an international tourist puller, the species of the jungle have attracted the attention of global mafia gangs.. PIC NATIONAL GEOGRAFIC

Wildlife crime in Botswana has emerged as one of the leading conduits for illicit financial flows, with the estimated lifetime value of elephants and rhinos poached between 2020 and 2024 reaching a jaw-dropping P12.4 billion. The figures are contained in a National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment report released recently.

Despite Botswana’s fauna being an international tourist puller, the species of the jungle have attracted the attention of global mafia gangs.

The gangs apparently have teamed up with insiders at anti-poaching units, leading to the country bleeding billions of pula that are further siphoned outside of the country through illegal channels.

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Poachers gun down P12bn of Botswana wildlife value

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