Botswana Approves Hunting of 23 Elephants for Meat During Independence Celebrations

Botswana’s government has approved permits to hunt 23 elephants for their meat during the country’s Independence Day celebrations this week.

The decision links the authorized hunts to the national festivities, with the elephants intended to provide meat for consumption.

The approval has drawn criticism from conservation advocates, placing the treatment of the animals at the center of a dispute over the celebrations.

One of Botswana’s former presidents has also criticized the move, adding a prominent political voice to the opposition. The brief account did not identify the former leader or detail the objections.