博茨瓦纳因独立庆典猎杀大象遭批评

博茨瓦纳政府在该国独立60周年庆典期间授权猎杀23头大象，用于提供肉类，此举立即遭到动物保护人士的强烈谴责1。环境和旅游部颁发的许可证允许猎杀这些大象及其他野生动物用于"赠予目的"1。庆典于周三举行，纪念该国从英国独立60周年1。

博茨瓦纳拥有全球最大的大象种群，数量超过13万头1。大象保护协会主席奥艾茨·纳瓦警告称，这一决定"可能会鼓励偷猎，因为会传递政府认可杀害大象的错误信号"1。根据政府数据，特殊象群配额在2025年为大象栖息地所在地区的项目筹集了1560万普拉（110万美元），环境和旅游部长温特·莫洛茨去年向议会做出此说明1。

博茨瓦纳在2014年禁止了狩猎贸易，但在2019年当前总统莫克威茨·马西西接任后解除了这一限制1。23头大象分配到全国8个地区进行猎杀1。当地报道显示，民众在学校大象尸体周围直接收集肉类，引发了卫生和公平分配方面的担忧1。

Botswana's government authorized the killing of 23 elephants to provide meat for the country's 60th independence anniversary celebrations, drawing sharp criticism from animal rights advocates and conservation organizations.1 The Environment and Tourism Ministry issued permits for the culling and distribution of the elephants and other wildlife for "gifting purposes" across eight regions nationwide.1

The celebration took place on Wednesday, marking six decades since Botswana's independence from Britain.1 As the home to the world's largest elephant population—over 130,000 animals—the government has defended culling as a wildlife management strategy to address human-elephant conflict.1 However, conservation groups have expressed concern that the decision undermines conservation achievements. Otetsi Nawa, chairperson of the Elephant Advocates Association, warned that the cull could encourage poaching by sending "the wrong signal that the government endorses killing elephants."1

The permits represent part of Botswana's special elephant quota system. Environment and Tourism Minister Winter Molotsi told parliament last year that special quota allocations had raised 15.6 million pula (approximately $1.1 million) in 2025 for projects in elephant habitat areas.1 Botswana banned hunting trade in 2014 under former president Ian Khama but lifted restrictions five years later under successor Mokgweetsi Masisi.1 Local reports indicated that communities collected meat directly from elephant carcasses at schools, raising concerns about hygiene and equitable distribution.1