Hunting licenses for elephant were clubbed in Botswana

Botswana, which has the world's largest elephant population, has conducted the first major trophy hunt auction since the hunting ban was abolished.

The auction in the capital Gaborone involved licensing packages of ten elephants each for hunting in specially selected areas, where elephants are considered to be problems for farmers, reports the AFP news agency. It is not known how many licenses were sold on Friday.

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi sparked international debate when he upheld the ban that had been introduced five years earlier by Representative Ian Khama.

Elephant populations throughout Africa are declining due to poaching, but in Botswana it has increased since the late 1990s. According to the government, the elephants cause problems for farmers by raising their crops, and hunting is therefore considered necessary to reduce the number.