LONDON: Botswana and five other African countries whose communities benefit from wildlife trophy imports to the UK and other destinations, are hopeful their lobbying against a proposed anti-trophy hunting bill will bear fruit, albeit with challenges.
Speaking here this morning, Godfrey Engliton, the Botswana High Commission Minister Counsellor, said that even if the Trophy Hunting (Import Prohibition) Bill goes to its second reading at the House of Commons on Friday this week, the six countries are hopeful that any amendments to the Bill might take into consideration their commitment to conservation.
"There is a likelihood of the Bill passing at the House of Commons with scientific amendments, and our main hope then lies with the House of Lords," confirmed Engliton in an interview with Mmegi this morning.
The scientific amendments in the case of the six countries include prudent conservation methods and details, amongst others that trophy hunting does not at all kill animals indiscriminately but select suitable ones in terms of their age.
Engliton further explained that their greatest hope lies with the House of Lords who were able to technically 'kill' a similar Bill last year by ensuring there were no sufficient numbers to support the Bill's passing.
