A country threatening Germany: We will send 20,000 elephants

Botswana’s president has threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany amid a dispute over the import of stuffed animals, which are poached as souvenirs to hang on walls.

African leader Mokgweetsi Masisi told the German daily newspaper Bild that imposing a ban on the import of this type of game would only lead to the impoverishment of Botswana.

Masisi stressed that his country “would like to offer such a gift to Germany,” adding that he “will not accept no for an answer,” according to a report by the Guardian newspaper.

He also explained that conservation efforts have led to a significant increase in elephant numbers and that hunting is an important way to keep them under control.

Masisi pointed out to the German newspaper that herds of elephants caused damage to property, ate crops, and trampled residents.

“This is not a joke,” said Masisi, whose country has seen the number of elephants rise to about 130,000. (Arabic)