The respite may be short-lived for Botswana wildlife. Professionals have asked the government to extend the first hunting season which was to start next month.
Although no cases have yet been identified in Botswana, the appearance of the new coronavirus has effects on local tourism. "The Covid-19 pandemic is having a severe impact on hunting," said the Botswana Wildlife Producers Association in a memo dated Friday, citing "many cancellations and many postponements" of reservations. "A lot of hunting customers," who came mainly from Europe and the United States to kill elephants, leopards, buffaloes, ostriches or zebras, "cannot travel because of the travel restrictions in place," she said. . "Getting to Botswana on a commercial flight from one of these countries is impossible," she said.
"Limit the case"
"Extending the hunting season this year (..) would limit the damage" in financial terms, she said, stating that she had made an explicit request to this effect to the authorities. The risk of spread of Covid-19 by hunters is "low," said the Botswana Wildlife Producers Association, saying that hunting essentially involves social distancing.
Last year, the government of this southern African country, prized by tourists for its wildlife, restored hunting, provoking passionate reactions. Botswana, which has the largest population of elephants in the world, organized the first large-scale auctions in early February for the allocation of hunting licenses. The government has not yet officially responded to this request.
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