What is happening to the elephants in Botswana is unconscionable.  The government of Botswana has lifted the hunting ban and will restart elephant hunts this year.  A quota has been issued of 272 killings starting in April and will go through September during the dry season when the bush is thinner and elephants are easier to locate.  Foreign hunters will be allowed to kill 202 of the elephants and 70 will be reserved for local people. 
 
Most of the hunters that go to southern Africa are from the U.S.  The average cost for a foreign trophy hunter the right shoot an elephant is about $21,000-$60,000 or more.  At the Calgary International Hunting Exposition, the starting bid to kill a bull elephant in Botswana this spring started at $84,000;
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-dead-elephant-walking-why-hunters-in-calgary-shouldnt-be-granted-a/
 
What has been found in the research is very little of the revenue generated by trophy hunters goes toward conservation efforts or to help the local people.  Most of the revenue goes to safari outfitters and associated foreign businesses and government. 
 
Not one ounce of a hunted elephant benefits human existence.  It only hurts us in the big scheme of life.  In fact, the elephant is a keystone species that actually supports ecosystems and helps to maintain biodiversity that supports the health of the planet.   We actually benefit from the elephants’ living presence without even realizing it. 
 
To take this one step further on how detrimental commercial elephant hunting and poaching is, we are currently in the world’s sixth mass extinction.  Dozens of species are going extinct every day and it is predicted by 2050, 30-50% of all species will be extinct.  Losing species at this rate will break down ecosystems that we rely on for the health of the planet.  This is another reason why it is critical we help conserve and protect the elephants and all wildlife. 
 
Poaching and hunting are the major threats which are endangering the lives of elephants.  As this petition demonstrates, many people want to see the elephants alive and protected.  It is their right just like it is ours, to be on this earth.  Support for the petition, is one way we can help spread awareness with the hopes of influencing policy change to reduce these threats.  The elephants need and deserve our voices. Thank you for your time on this matter.  
 
My goal will always be to help keep the elephants safe.  Please join me in this endeavor. 
 
With heartfelt gratitude,
Nicole @WildForChange
 
*Photo by Matthew Spiteri on Unsplash