Press Statement from Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism on Suspension of Hunting by 2014
ALL CORRESPONDENCE MUST BE ADDRESSED TO
THE PERMANENT SECRETARY
29th November 2012
Dear news editors,
PRESS STATEMENT FROM MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT,
WILDLIFE AND TOURISM ON SUSPENSION OF HUNTING BY 2014
As was confirmed by His Excellency the President in his recent State of the Nation Address, Government has decided to indefinitely suspend commercial hunting of wildlife in public or Controlled Hunting Areas as from the 1st of January 2014. This comes as a realization that the shooting of wild game purely for sport and trophies is no longer seen to be compatible with either our national commitment to conserve and preserve local fauna or the long term growth of the local tourism industry.
Therefore and in light of various enquiries that have been received from members of the public since the above announcement, the following statement is meant to provide further background on the motive and implementation of the suspension.
The decision to impose this moratorium on hunting was made in the context of a growing concern about the sharp decline in the populations of most of the wildlife species that have been subject to licensed hunting. If left unchecked this decline poses a genuine threat to both the conservation of our natural heritage and the long term health of the local tourist industry which currently ranks second to diamonds in terms of its revenue earnings.
Besides contributing to the conservation of wildlife it is anticipated that, in keeping with international trends, the moratorium on hunting will further facilitate the sustainable growth of the tourism sector, as hunting zones are converted into photographic areas.
It may be noted here that while hunting is a seasonal activity, meaning that its contribution to the tourism sector and hence national revenue has also been seasonal and minimal, photographic tourism is conducted year round. Moreover, photographic tourism has virtually no potential for any negative impact on local wildlife populations and hence sustainable.
Finally, it may be also noted that Government’s decision to indefinitely suspend commercial hunting by non release of any annual hunting quotas, will not for the time being affect its ability to continue to issue special game licences on a limited basis for traditional hunting by some local communities within designated wildlife management areas etc. Government will thus continue to assess individual cases for special game licenses.
Thank you
Yours Faithfully
Mr Edmont B. Moabi
PERMANENT SECRETARY
First For Hunters 
Mr President….With the greatest respect , as a hunter who has never visited your beautiful country , I urge you to reconsider . The hunting industry in Africa has a long history of successful conservation .And it is hunters’ dollars that help finance anti-poaching measures , game conservancy , disciplined quota hunting …and the overall economy of your nation. I sincerely hope that I may have the privilege of hunting in Botswana in the future.
Respectfully
Peter Taylor
Denver , Colorado USA
it will be like in kenya;poaching will
kill everything,as the country will be open for them without the hunting organisation,
best example:kenya was the most populated country with elephant in africa before
they stoped hunting,to day what is remaning are in reserve beeing finance by
the tourisme ;in the rest of the country they have been shot by poachers as they
were not any more protected by the government ( only the money spent by the hunters was able to pay the guards for protection)
another example is rep of central africa, since they have stoped elephant hunting
all of them have been shot by poachers;it was the country of the best tuskers with
kenya;poaching is even organize;
these countrees should not say that they stop hunting for the protection of the
animals .
Minister Moabi:
When the reality of substantial loss of tourism revenue and employment occurs promptly after the end of the legal hunting, please do not hesitate or feel embarrassed to acknowledge that a mistake was made in believing the false assumptions of the people who advised your government on this issue. Commercial hunting has always enriched the local economies, provided employment in the bush and the cities, and promoted actual conservation through game management and poaching control. I hope this lesson will be speedily re-learned in Botswana, for the good of all involved. A wise man learns from his mistakes.
Sincerely,
Terry Nelson
Huntington Beach, California
Dear Minister Moabi,
By your governments decree, Botswana’s wildlife resources have now been condemned to death by illegal poaching by criminals. The criminal element will rejoice for a few years, only until they completely depopulate your national wildlife treasure. Photographic tourism does not focus on filming carcasses and empty plains, devoid of sustainable wildlife populations. What a sad, yet predictable legacy you leave for your people.
Respectfully,
Bob Thomae
San Antonio, Texas
While I am clearly a member of the hunting community, and one that has never set foot in your country, I am deeply troubled with the notion that photographic safaris will propogate the species while hunting will diminish the wildlife resource. My suggestion is to make an educated decison based on facts from countries that do and do not believe in hunting and its impact on wildlife resources. I would encourage you to look at statistics from wildlife agencies in the United states and the impact that hunters have had on species such as the American Elk, Pronghorn Antelope, Whitetail Deer, Wood Duck and others to name but a few. People armed with photographic equipment had minimal impact on the turnaround in these majestic creatures presence today. At the same time, choose a country that has gone your way, Kenya has been suggested, but you pick. Please do the research. I believe there is a balance that man has disrupted and forever that will be. Man must now manage it.
Please reconsider. Botswana was a top destination on my list, but now will only be a question mark given this current position.
Brad Smith
Fort Worth, Texas
What a terrible decision. The anti hunting groups that funded this ban and purred in Moabis ear will eventually pack up and leave and the wildlife will be exposed across the nation to unfettered poaching and mass killings by local meat hunters and professional poachers. The nations game will be slaughtered. And he wont have legal hunting to blame then. Just a barren country with little or no wildlife. Oh and of course no tourism.