- cross-posted to:
- nottheonion@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- nottheonion@lemmy.world
Earlier this year, Germany’s environment ministry suggested there should be stricter limits on importing trophies from hunting animals.
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi told German media this would only impoverish people in his country.
He said elephant numbers had exploded as a result of conservation efforts, and hunting helped keep them in check.
Germans should “live together with the animals, in the way you are trying to tell us to”, Mr Masisi told German newspaper Bild. “This is no joke.”
Botswana is home to about a third of the world’s elephant population - over 130,000 - more than it has space for.
Herds were causing damage to property, eating crops and trampling residents, Mr Masisi said.
Botswana has previously given 8,000 elephants to neighbouring Angola, and has offered hundreds more to Mozambique, as a means of bringing the population down.
“We would like to offer such a gift to Germany,” Mr Masisi said, adding that he would not take no for an answer.
Botswana’s Wildlife Minister Dumezweni Mthimkhulu last month threatened to send 10,000 elephants to London’s Hyde Park so British people could “have a taste of living alongside” them.
In March, UK MPs voted to support a ban on importing hunting trophies, but the legislation has further scrutiny to pass before becoming law.
Can’t wait for my German war elephant. Gonna name him Hartmut.
I’ll only accept this if they march them across the Alps and sack Rome like they should have done the first time. 😤
To be fair the Germans did sack Rome a few times back in the 5th century. They didn’t even need elephants for it
I think you may have a deal!
I’m picturing them leasing a car ferry, making a beach landing in the middle of the night, and just herding a whole bunch of elephants down the ramp.
I’d pay to see that.
More interested in how they plan to get 10k to Hyde Park.
I mean even if you assume baby elephants. Via London traffic. That is an impressive feat.
This reminds me of the story during colonization. The Europeans went to Africa and said you guys need to plant crops like we do. So the Europeans planted crops, they grew, and then the hippos came and ate it all.
As for elephants I have no idea.
You can’t plant elephants, silly!
What are they teaching them in schools these days?
OK, someone tell me why this is a bad idea.
Herds of wild elephants sweeping across the majestic North European Plain. I’d be up for it.
I mean, climate, for one
Don’t worry, that’s being worked on as we speak.
Sad but true lol
That’s why mammoths existed. We’re bringing them to life again.
Would this be good for the climate?
Elephants aren’t cold weather creatures
We could give them duvet jackets. A look down any local high street suggests suitable sizes are already available 🙂
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How do you even send 20,000 wild elephants? That seems like a huge undertaking.
Does Botswana HAVE 20,000 elephants?
It has 130,000 according to what OP posted