UK Hunting Trophies Bill: Implications to conservation and livelihoods in Botswana

Following the science: Mbaiwa made a presentation at Oxford University this week
Following the science: Mbaiwa made a presentation at Oxford University this week

LONDON: The Botswana Government and local communities living in wildlife areas are currently protesting to the British Parliament about the potential of the UK passing a bill that prohibits trophy imports from Botswana and other Southern African states known as KAZA countries from entering the UK.

The UK is Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which regulates international trade in over 35,000 species of wild animals and plants, their products (such as animal skins) and derivatives (such as food or medicine).

The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill seeks to ban the importation of legally obtained wildlife trophies from Botswana and other African countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, Nambia, Tanzania and South Africa. It is going for the second reading in the House of Lords on March 22, 2024.


Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

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