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Botswana underlines protection of African elephants

Xinhua, March 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Botswana's Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Tshekedi Khama said Tuesday protection of African elephants is an issue which should be given utmost importance.

Briefing media on the upcoming conference on illegal wildlife held in Botswana, Khama said poaching has the potential to affect the survival of many, and undermine countries efforts to develop their economies through sustainable utilization of their biodiversity and the rule of law.

Botswana is so far doing well in its anti-poaching strategies in comparison to its counterparts as it has been revealed in the recent survey on elephants, Khama said in Gaborone, capital of Botswana.

The minister said Botswana is committed to ensuring that elephant population does not become extinct, saying many initiates have been put in place to stop poaching. He added failure to manage the animals will prompt them to migrate to places where they will feel safer.

He called upon communities and all stakeholders to work in one accord in the fight against poaching.

Thirty five nations and 10 international organisations are expected to attend the conference which is set be held in Kasane, northern Botswana on March 25.

The conference follows the 2014 London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade, hosted by the UK in February 2014. The conference was to respond to the growing crisis in wildlife poaching in order to focus high level political attention on the issue as well as explore new ways to tackle the problem and ensure a more comprehensive approach. Endi