The German government has no plans to take national measures against the import of hunting trophies into Germany, according to a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry for the Environment. The European Union is currently discussing expanding the requirement for import permits to include additional highly protected and endangered species. Recent tensions between the German Ministry for the Environment and representatives of some African countries, particularly Botswana, have fueled a debate on the import of hunting trophies. Botswana is concerned that further restrictions on trophy imports could result in significant financial losses.
German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, who is known for supporting additional import restrictions, has reportedly drawn the ire of Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi. In response to Lemke’s stance, Masisi threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in protest. He claimed that there is an overpopulation of elephants in Botswana, posing a threat to both humans and the animals themselves. The Environment Ministry’s spokesperson clarified that any further restrictions on trophy hunting at the EU level would not affect elephants, as they are already listed as endangered species. The EU’s goal is not to impose hunting bans, but rather to regulate imports of trophies.
The German Foreign Office has not received an official donation offer from Botswana for the elephants, as indicated by Masisi’s statement. The Foreign Office spokesperson also humorously mentioned the planned expansion of the Chancellor’s office building as a potential solution for accommodating the elephants. The visit of Botswana’s Environment Minister to Berlin last week aimed to persuade Germany to refrain from supporting further restrictions on trophy imports. Animal rights activists have long been advocating for import bans on trophies of endangered species into Germany, as the country is the largest importer of such trophies in the EU.
In the past year, there were 650 import transactions of hunting trophies into Germany, with species such as Bergzebras, Baboons, and African Elephants among the most imported. Lemke had previously expressed intentions to further limit trophy imports into Germany, but no significant progress has been made in this regard. The ongoing debate surrounding hunting trophies highlights the complex issues surrounding conservation, international trade, and wildlife protection. The German government’s decision not to implement national measures on this issue reflects the broader discussions taking place at the EU level regarding the regulation of trophy imports.
