I am presently writing an Elephant Management Plan (EMP) to be delivered to His Excellency, President Masisi of Botswana.

I please make a generous tax deductible donations so I can continue the work of ElephantRescue.Net to save many elephants from the hunter's bullet.

If elephant hunting is allowed in Botswana, it is quite feasible that thousands of elephants could die.

This is the challenge:

The new leader of Botswana, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, may allow hunting in Botswana, a country where it has been banned for several years.

Botswana has successfully protected its elephant herds from hunters, as well as poachers. And, because elephants are exceptionally intelligent, many of them have migrated to Botswana from surrounding countries for safety.

But now farmers are complaining about elephants on their land. There have also been cases of elephants destroying property and even rare cases of killing people.

So, now hunting is being considered to thin the herd.

This, however, is impractical since vast numbers would need to be killed to realize a numerical benefit.

Here are viable alternatives I will discuss in my plan, which will be given to H.E. President Masisi:

1. A better population management plan could be achieved by implementing a birth control system. This would prevent cows (the female elephants) to be inoculated against pregnancy for one year without side effects.

This would help to keep the population in check.

2. Planting shrubbery that attracts bees. Elephants are quite sensitive to bee stings and a farmer or land owner who plants such bushes along the borders of his property should see a decrease of elephant intrusion.

It may be appropriate for the government to supply these plants or subsidize their acquisition.

3. Those who are likely to encounter elephants should be encouraged to keep pepper spray with them. Elephants flee when it is sprayed in or near their eyes.

Again, it may be appropriate for the government to supply pepper spray where needed or to subsidize its acquisition.

I will post updates and we progress.

In the meantime, please donate so we can continue this critical work. Elephants lives may depend on it!