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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Environment
Shola Lawal

Elephant in the room: Why Botswana, Namibia want fewer of the gentle giants

In this March 3, 2013 photo, elephants drink water in the Chobe National Park in Botswana. President Mokgweetsi Masisi has loosened restrictions on elephant hunting since he took office [File: Charmaine Noronha/AP]

They might be an awesome sight to see from a safe distance on safari as they lumber around with their big, lopping ears and long trunks, but for those who live side by side with elephants, these mammals can quickly become a menace.

Elephants’ numbers in African countries have dwindled hugely in the past. Conservation efforts since the 1980s, however, have seen populations recover somewhat. In Southern African countries, where about half of the African elephant population resides, their higher numbers mean they are starting to come into conflict with humans.

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