Botswana, a nation celebrated for its wildlife conservation efforts, finds itself grappling with a rather weighty problem: too many elephants. While a booming elephant population might sound like a resounding success, ABC’s “Foreign Correspondent” explores the complicated reality on the ground in its upcoming episode, “Botswana.”
For decades, Botswana has been a haven for elephants, and the country now boasts the world’s largest population. This has been hailed as a conservation triumph, drawing tourists eager to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. But as Stephanie March discovers in her report, this success story has a darker side. In some areas, the elephant-to-human ratio is as high as two elephants for every person, leading to escalating human-wildlife conflict.
Elephants, in their search for food and water, are increasingly encroaching on farmland, destroying crops and livelihoods. Tragically, human fatalities are also on the rise, fueling animosity towards the very animals conservationists have worked so hard to protect. This growing resentment threatens to undermine decades of conservation work, posing a difficult question: how can Botswana balance the needs of its human population with the protection of its wildlife?
March’s report investigates the economic landscape, examining who profits from the lucrative elephant tourism industry and who shoulders the burden of the challenges. “Foreign Correspondent: Botswana” airs Tuesday, April 1st at 8.00pm on ABC and ABC iview.
