Hunting Ban: Botswana, Africa

In South Africa, there is a country called Botswana. Since 2012, this country has had a ban against hunting for trophy animals. Trophy animals include lions, elephants and leopards. Although you may think this hunting ban is a good thing so the endangered species can live, the ban is actually a terrible thing for the African society. Since there are no hunters on the prowl for these trophies, the animals have been roaming into villages more than usual. Lions attack all livestock and elephants eat the farmer's gardens, leaving the villagers without food supply. In the village of Sankuyo, there were two lions killed by villagers because they wandered into residential areas. "When the hunting was introduced, we actually ended up killing less animals, that's the irony," said Dr. Child. In 2012 there were 4,361 conflicts with wild animals in 2012, and in 2014 there were 6,770. Poaching incidents also increased from 309 in 2012 to 323 in 2014.

Throughout the years, trophy hunting has helped Africa in so many ways. In the year 2010, Sankuyo earned approximately $600,000 from tourists hunting. Sankuyo earned this much from 120 animals which included 22 elephants, 55 impalas, and 9 buffalo. The tourists pay for their license, a place to stay, someone to drive them, and someone to take them hunting. This money ended up paying for outdoor toilets in 20 households and standpipes to be installed in courtyards. This allowed 40 families to have running water.

I always thought hunting these fascinating animals was a terrible thing. After reading this article, however, I feel differently about hunting "trophy" animals. These animals cause great danger and harm to the people of Africa, and to their environment. They may work extremely hard on growing a garden, to find out it has been destroyed by an elephant. Living in America, you are taught to appreciate these animals since they are endangered species; although the people are in more danger than the animals. The ban has more harm to the people in Africa, financially and physically.

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/world/a-hunting-ban-saps-a-villages-livelihood.html?ref=africa&_r=0
http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/07/29/427451836/one-point-of-view-on-how-lions-can-earn-money-for-africa
http://safaritime.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/elephant-trophy-hunting.jpg
http://www.thewildernessociety.com/uploads_media/lion_of_kalahari__media_1306713972.jpg