Quote:

---

Botswana's herd is huge because they want a strong huntable population for the revenue it ptoduces.

---

Actually, I have the impression after talking several times with people in the Botswana govt./wildlife Dept. that they want to reduce the numbers of elephant in their country, which most people agree is at least twice the number of what is sustainable. Unfortunately the government is being pressured by the photo safari industy to not do so, under threat that the big companies (Such as Wilderness Safaris, etc) will pull out of Botswana in favour of other countries, AND launch a massive worldwide anti-Botswana PR campaign, if elephants are culled in larger numbers than the relatively very few that are hunted for sport. Then of couse there are apparently a few high placed govt. officials who personally profit from the so-called "eco-tourism" that photo-safaris represent, and thus don't want the boat (or their income) to be rocked...

The sad thing about this is that the consequences can be seen by anyone who visits Chobe for example, where much of it looks like a battlefield due to overgrazing by elephants. Which in turn wipes out other smaller animals species that are not powerful enough to make the long trip between food and water, as all the edible vegitation near the river permantently recedes. But I guess the greenies don't mind the demise of smaller animals, as long as they get to take pictures of the bigger ones...

It is presumed that the over-large elephant population in Botswana will eventually reach a point where it will crash by itself, due to starvation and disease. But again, I guess the greenies prefer to close their eyes to reality.

Erik

Post Extras