27 Apr 2016

The burning of ivory is like putting the final nail on the coffin of a once magnificent animal by destroying its remaining tusks, says the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama.

He said Botswana would not burn or destroy its ivory stockpiles as a way to prevent illegal ivory trade and elephant poaching.

Briefing the media about the position of Botswana on the issue, Minister Khama said the effectiveness of the decision to destroy ivory was a matter for each country to determine.

“In Botswana, we do not destroy ivory because we have told communities living with elephants that there is value in conserving elephants for ecotourism, and emphasising that the value of a live elephant should be upheld at all costs. Burning ivory would demonstrate to the communities that the animal has no value,” said Mr Khama.

He said the country prefers not to burn ivory or rhino horn or any other wildlife product which could be used to demonstrate to the world the value of nature and the importance of conservation.

Furthermore, Minister Khama noted that the country has a strong reputation of conservation as the home to Africa’s largest elephant population, and that the country was committed to maintaining the status and looking at new ways to preserving the commitment to elephants and people.

“We believe we should preserve and protect whatever existing quantities remaining as a consistent reminder of how mankind’s greed leads to the extinction of our planet’s flora and fauna. We cannot burn the shame associated with this and just hope it will disappear in smoke,” he said.

Meanwhile, Botswana will attend the Giant’s Club Summit in Kenya at the end of the month to represent its commitment to finding lasting solutions to ensuring the sustainability of Africa’s wild elephant population.

Minister Khama said Botswana would not attend the ivory burning event which would take place after the summit. ENDS