Farmers and rural communities in Botswana are set to benefit from a new experimental lion hunting quota; a move authorities expect will reduce human–wildlife conflict while providing critical revenue for local livelihoods.
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) recently ended a decade-long moratorium on lion hunting by introducing a controlled quota for the 2026 season. The experimental permits allow community trusts and farmers’ organizations to sell hunting rights to professional operators, with recommended fees starting at P500,000 (approximately $37,000 USD) per lion.
Principal Wildlife Officer Kenosi Nkape confirmed that nine lions have been allocated under the current quota. Funds generated from these hunts are legally required to be reinvested into projects that mitigate predator conflict, such as repairing fences and compensating households that have suffered significant livestock losses.
Among the first to benefit is the Hainaveld Farmers Association in the North West District, currently the only such association to receive a lion quota. Kealeboga Tudor, a representative for local beef farmers, said the initiative addresses a desperate need for protection.
“Farmers in this area frequently lose livestock to lion attacks,” Tudor said. “The money will help maintain fences separating wildlife areas from farms and support education programs that teach communities how to live safely alongside wildlife”.
Robynne Kotze, Conservation Director at Connect Trust, noted that involving communities is central to long-term wildlife protection. She described the experimental quota as a “cautious approach” to ensure revenue from wildlife is cycled back into community development.
Botswana remains home to one of Africa’s largest lion populations, with estimates ranging between 2,500 and 5,000 individuals. However, increasing contact between people and predators remains a volatile challenge. Gosiame Mahupeleng, a lecturer at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), warned that livestock is becoming a primary target for lions where wild prey is scarce.
“In agricultural zones, more than 95 percent of the prey available to dispersing lions is livestock,” Mahupeleng explained.
National data indicates that Botswana records approximately 3,466 human–lion conflict incidents annually. Mahupeleng noted that current government compensation often fails to cover the full market value of lost cattle, leaving farmers economically vulnerable.
This initiative is a core component of the Lion Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2036). Developed by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the plan seeks to balance predator conservation with the economic realities of rural Botswana, ensuring both the iconic species and the communities that share their landscape can thrive.
