26 Nov 2013

The elephant population in the country is not declining, Minister of Environemnt Wildlife and Tourism Mr Tshekedi Khama has said.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Mr Tshekedi said crocodiles along with other species such as hippos were difficult to count. Mr Tshekedi explained that temporary suspension on hunting was to give the ministry the opportunity to undertake research.

He was responding to a question asked by Okavango MP Mr Bagalatia Arone who had asked the minister if elephants and crocodiles were also declining in number in view of the question asked and responded to earlier in Parliament.

In response to the question that was earlier asked, the minister had stated that the decision to ban hunting as from January 2014, was based on available information which indicated the decline in species population. Ends