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With the debate on the private members bill to ban hunting trophies set for next week in the lower house of the UK parliament (the commons), more than 23 community based organisations from areas living alongside wildlife on Tuesday petitioned the British High commission over the bill.
The petition seeks to garner support from some Commons to block the passing of the Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill into law in the United Kingdom (UK). The bill comes for the second time after it fell through the last time when it missed the deadline for debate.
Over 100 participants from the NGOs took part in a walk to submit the petition at the British High Commission, which was followed by a press conference. The march to present the petition was spear headed by Ngamiland Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (NCONGO).
UK parliament’s John Spellar of the Labour Party has launched a Private Members Bill to ban hunting trophies. The Bill is expected to be discussed by MPs on Monday, March 18.
Trophy hunting has consistently been at threat from animal rights groups whose reasoning is that hunting violates animal rights. Southern African countries however are of the view that hunting is a sustainable conservation tool, which in the case of Botswana is used to benefit communities who bear the brunt of human/wildlife conflicts.
Should the bill be adopted, big game hunters will be barred to import hunting trophies from Southern African countries into the UK, the major market of the products. The petition implored UK government to carefully consider the implications of enacting the hunting ban bill.
In a press briefing following the petition delivery, NCONGO Director Siyoka Simasiku indicated that should the bill pass it will have negative consequences such as uncontrolled wildlife populations, exacerbate human wildlife conflicts and undermine conservation efforts and also negatively impacts the livelihoods and wellbeing of communities.
“Most European countries are not aware of the benefits and risks of communities living alongside wildlife, we want them to travel to Southern Africa to get first-hand information about how limited elephant hunting helps countries like Botswana,” Simasiku said.
Simasiku disclosed that Botswana issues about 300 elephant hunting licenses per year, generating approximately US$3 million for the country that is separate from other revenue that hunters generate. He added that trophy hunting has created an estimated total of 7000 jobs hence aiding the government in job creations.
Meanwhile a delegation from Botswana, and led by government at a high level, alongside the CBOs is expected to leave for the UK to start the push back campaign against the bill. The minister of environment and tourism Dumezweni Mthimkhulu is said to lead the delegation to London.
