Botswana's President Masisi: 'I want the Germans to feel what we feel' | DW News Africa

Botswana wants to send 20,000 elephants to Germany. President Masisi tells DW News Africa what's behind the offer.
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#Germany #elephants #Botswana

[@kenny6920]

I feel like you could find 20k Germans who would want an elephant.

[@johnsnow5125]

and after the winter we could get 20k new elephants. Dare I say, win-win

[@pattyhsieh]

and not long later you will find 10k elephants roaming the streets as strays

[@OfoeNelson]

Doesn't work like that. They need vast lands to roam free. And they will die from cold exposure unlike their distant extinct relative the mammoth

[@ixtmituulitilixam]

Elefantenschnitzel zum Mittagessen vergenussferkeln. Schmackofatz

[@oLevLovesLove]

It costs $100K a year to keep an elephant in western countries, it's not like adopting a cat.

[@paul-xo7oo]

„Our relationship with Germany is not defined by elephants“ - what a legend

[@SueChef100]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@idehenebenezer]

Jesus is returning soon🔥 Repent and turn away from your sins to obtain salvation 🤗🤗.

[@TheKomentor]

Seems like a well-read and articulate guy.

[@alphazero4102]

@@idehenebenezer You okay?

[@quantumjourney1]

@@idehenebenezer Learn basic critical thinking skills and you won't fall for that stuff

[@callamastia]

i like how DW just casually brings out *_the president of botswana_* for a 15min interview

[@martiendejong8857]

Like proper colonialist masters

[@Exodius3]

@@martiendejong8857germany arent really colonizers anymore, better look at france

[@tWo-hu8mk]

​@Exodius3 if they aren't colonizers why the Germans open their mouth about elephants, climate change etc., in African countries?

[@samsmith2635]

@@Exodius3 they were novices at colonizing and never got good at it before WWI started and they lost all their colonies.

[@Exodius3]

@@samsmith2635 More talking about the now situation. Germans feel guilty for their rather small acts of colonization (as they should ofc), but france is doing whatever they want in africa

[@v.k.8153]

"Just to be clear, you're not really sending 20K elephants to Germany, are you?" "I might well be." I absolutely died!🤣

[@NLJeffEU]

Botswana couldnt, even if they wanted to 😂

[@JajaofAbuja]

​@@NLJeffEUwhat will Germany do when he ships the Elephants? Shoot down the ships and kill 20,000 Elephants?

[@NLJeffEU]

@@JajaofAbuja im pretty sure the government of Botswana doesn't have the money and resources to do so 😅

[@JajaofAbuja]

@@NLJeffEU Europe gets majority of their money and resources from African countries. They definitely have the resources.

[@NLJeffEU]

@@JajaofAbuja with resources i mean the boat, etc. 😂 the amount of copium you are using is insane btw

[@pumpkopf]

German here. Successful conservation efforts here in Germany have led to wolves being present again after being hunted to extinction 150 years ago. We are having a big discussion in our country about, how to deal with wolves that kill livestock and are getting close to settlements. Wolves that are a danger to livestock or people are being hunted right now in Germany. The number of wolves is estimated to be around 1500-3000 Individuals, not even remotely close to elephant numbers in Botswana, and we already are having to result to hunting to manage populations. It's a clear case of "preach water and drink wine", so I can definitely understand the frustration of President Masisi.

[@Rollmops94]

Thats not the point at all. We dont tell the people of Botswana to not hunt. We tell Germans they are not allowed to bring elefant trophies into Germany. If they have an elefant problem they can hunt them themselves. They try to make this a moral problem by using buzzwords like neo-colonialism and twisted logic, but actually this is all about money.

[@Anakianaj]

@@Rollmops94 This does beg the question why Germans shouldn't be allowed to bring elephant trophies from legitimate hunting expeditions into the country. - There are about two viable reasons I can think of: risk of extinction and it being unethical due to the animal's intelligence and trauma of the surviving elephants. We just learned that there is no risk of extinction in Botswana - quite the contrary. So is it the ethical concern? Or is there another reason I'm not aware of?

[@florian5670]

​​@@AnakianajAs a German I agree with the ban. There are situations where there are no viable alternatives to killing an animal. But doing it for fun and keeping a trophy is highly unethical to me. I do understand it's an economical problem for Botswana though. If the elephants were the problem, they could still hunt them themselves.

[@PayAttEx]

@@Anakianaj Of course it's about ethics. Trophy hunting is the reason many animal species have gone extinct. Not to mention a disturbing practice by itself.

[@OfoeNelson]

Very interesting. Funny DW didn't bring this up in this interview

[@geddinixan255]

Jokes aside, he did a good job bringing attention to this issue.

[@j.erickson8571]

20K elephants is no joke. People are afraid of little foxes and bears. Imagine these big folks running around.

[@kawaiikoto8800]

​@@j.erickson8571It has always been the elephant's natural habitat. Botswana so cqlled people need to leave or live in small area so the environment is not damaged.

[@Yahyia-cv3sx]

​@@j.erickson8571 Russia could help repay their karmic debt by adopting them, placing them somewhere in the southern territories. Time for them to stop killing and respect life, the right to life. China could help. Don't make war. Preserve life.

[@krollpeter]

Botswana is one of the very few African countries who have a functioning administration, and constant improvement for everyone. It is time the world recognises this and welcomes Botswana into the world community, even though it is a relatively small country. If they say there is a problem, then this IS NOT A JOKE.

[@geddinixan255]

@@Yahyia-cv3sx i had kind of the same thought, they could help with the ecosystem of thawing the tundra. But thats just as impossible as sending them to germany.

[@victoriawong-e2b]

I am so impressed with Botswana's president. He is not just articulate, but poses his argument in simple, logical terms. He also doesnt back down. I felt compelled to learn more about him. He also renegotiated a diamond mining deal for his country and forced a 750M invesment in diversification of economy, funded by Debeers. Really impressive. This man needs more time in the international spotlight.

[@nextinstitute7824]

Yes, he seems all right, that man. Botswana seems to be doing well. Mostly mining and tourism, it seems.

[@levismith7444]

Smh if only Zimbabwe could be more like Botswana

[@lewiswood1693]

Yeah Botswana a really up and coming country, particularly because of their good government, higher education rates and natural resource wealth. We may see a powerful African nation emerge from them within the next 25 years.

[@lolakauffmann]

He is uninformed on Germany, though. We don't hunt problematic species. Take wolves! We throw money into keeping them safe. Instead, sheperds give up their business, ponies & foals get eaten, people are told to clap their hands for protection. Maybe Elephants can be trained to chase the wolves back to somwhere they can hopefully be culled?

[@ashleymukarali4852]

@@levismith7444 you mean south Africa

[@user-ru3ql6ji4p]

He's right. Protecting elephants sounds great when You don't have to deal with 130,000 of them.

[@uviweboyana8936]

In a country with with less than 3 million people

[@MrTyp00n]

And over half a million square kilometres of land. I'm surprised you can even find an Elephant in all that space.

[@shyamapple9060]

@@MrTyp00n Elephants live in matriarchal groups but still each individual elephant requires 5 square kilometers as its range for feeding and nurture. Botswana has an area of 581,729 square kilometers but the range of its entire elephant population of 130,000 would require over 650,000 square kilometers more than the entire area of the country and leaving no space for humans or any other animals. It is a case of severe overpopulation of elephants.

[@MrTyp00n]

@@shyamapple9060 You forget to mention that because Elephants are pack animals they can happily share space, meaning you need about 1 square kilometre per Elephant so long as that Elephant is free to roam into land set aside for other individual Elephants. Meaning you could set aside 130 thousand square kilometres of Botswana, and still have a country bigger than Germany with only about 2% of its Human population.

[@ricardoxavier827]

At the moment he diverted from the idea of ofering the elephants to another african nations, his lies and true psychopath goals become clear.

[@Ayla_3.3]

As a South African, we salute Botswana for keeping a bit of wildlife space on this human trampled planet

[@javiermartinezjr8849]

Agreed,a lot of money from hunting packages goes towards hiring would be poachers and giving them jobs,or hire people who genuinely love animals ,and protecting them. In other places to detour poaching,have shaved or completely "castrated" the bulls horns so poachers don't shoot them. One they don't care if the tusk is small or big ,2 it messes up the ecosystem.bulls with longer horns,get the cows,which keeps there DNA in the gene pool,a lot of male elephants can't even find mates due to the fact female elephants are not attracted to them , or if they do mount cows ,the gene pool of the big strong bulls gets withered away .Tusks are not just weapons ,they use them to uproot certain foods in dry season, to move things,create resting areas etc,same with rhinos. They don't even understand that the import trophy does not come with ivory ,which a that was the initial argument,that it's for ivory,second it makes no sense that they can not sell it legally. Agree brother

[@Ayla_3.3]

@@javiermartinezjr8849 So well explained Javier, thank you!!

[@orangeyewglad]

@@javiermartinezjr8849 There is so much more money in ecotoursim than there is in hunting, this is propoganda that hunters claim to continue their practices.

[@roach7336]

Are we still talking about the country whose president presented stools made from elephant feet to other country leaders?

[@Ayla_3.3]

@@roach7336 How nasty you are, good job!

[@Fabian-ff4cq]

As a german, its kinda sad to see this has not been giving the attention it deserves. Thank you Botswana for the clear words!

[@akopowerletsplay3884]

fabian ,,, du auch hier ? :-)

[@humungus4206]

True but it feels very typical to our politics. Elephants are endangered animal, can't be that individual countries did well and don't have this problem anymore.

[@JuMiKu]

Meanwhile we, when a single bear steps foot on our soil... 🔪🔪🔪🩸🐻

[@jameslooker4791]

Meanwhile, millions of German kids, "Papa, Botswana schickt kostenlose Elefanten nach Deutschland! Ich verspreche, dass ich gut auf ihn aufpassen werde."

[@imatanyani]

😂😂😂😂

[@Aedony]

kostenlos? Davon war nie die rede. Kind, fang an zu sparen.

[@________________61]

😂😂

[@martiendejong8857]

True psychological warfare, reminds me of commmercials targetting kids so they start nagging to their parents in the store.

[@evidennt]

😂😂😂😂

[@ezekielkuolabuk3914]

These are the kind of leaders we need as African. Articulate, intelligent and has some dry humour. Much love from South Sudan 🇸🇸.

[@LuLu-yo8ud]

We have no problem with that but stay where you are don't come to Europe. that's all. Be happy

[@matetebernardramajoana4366]

Period

[@JO_Artificial]

@@LuLu-yo8udLULU sounds like a a certain African from the south of Africa, when did you become a European.

[@NLJeffEU]

They couldnt send 1 if they wanted too 😂

[@kennethkho7165]

@@LuLu-yo8ud did you know that racism is against youtube community guidelines?

[@Melior_Traiano]

Botswana is one of the few countries that has done better in terms of standard of living post-independence than most other former colonies.

[@artman12]

Botswana had a visionary leader at the time of independence who decided to invest their diamond wealth for their people like Norway did with their oil wealth. Diamonds were not discovered in Botswana until the year of independence, so it was a backwater that was ignored by the Europeans who focused more on stripping the resources of South Africa dry for themselves. So the diamonds were in the control of Botswana the whole time after it was found out and that helped greatly in developing the country.

[@iche9373]

Maybe Botswana becomes one day like Wakanda.

[@callamastia]

which is why they’re trying to restrict it under the guise of ecology or whatever

[@Melior_Traiano]

@@iche9373 Well, take a look at South Africa and Botswana starts to look like Wakanda.

[@BruceJ999]

​@@Melior_TraianoWhat are you smoking😂Botswana is better than S.A.Its just S.A has a bigger Economy

[@valt3692]

40% is a sacrifice in modern times....well done and thank you Botswana With ✊🏽 from 🇿🇦

[@eduard348]

It sounds cool but, sacrifice is a virtue. So it's important to point out, that the population density of Germany is 60x. The difference is absolutely insane, like if Botswana had a population of 150 mil instead of less than 3. The 60% of the remaining land means still the population density of 40x less than Germany. Even if they wanted they are unable to manage all that land mass, so they set some part aside. ...talking about sacrifices..

[@GhostLGNDClashRoyale]

It's a ridiculous claim, you are a population of 3 million and your country is bigger than germany and switzerland combined. You won't even be able to use that land

[@Ame865]

⁠@@eduard348elephants are natural grazers. Humans need more to survive. And this is Africa we’re talking about. You wanna talk about sustainability, you should understand that they have a vastly different climate which makes it impossible to nearly sustain as large of a population as Germany has today.

[@FezCaliph]

⁠@@Ame865people seem to often forget why some places have such a large population while other don’t.

[@houssedecouette4056]

@@eduard348 I am pretty sure you can use land for agriculture beyond what your populace needs to export

[@TimoGla]

Its so crazy that a politician who is doing his job by discussing and explaining a topic all while being brutally honest feels so weird to watch. So very different from our politicians here in Germany. Really impressed by Mr. Masisi. I’ll have to admit that the ban sounded like a really good idea to me as I am a big fan of nature and wildlife. Also not a big fan of rich aholes killing intelligent creatures for fun. But thinking about it we in germany as a fact eradicated almost every single species that we had human-wildlife conflicts with. Otters, wolfs, bears, european bison and so on. Botswana is absolutely right to call us out on those double standards. Especially with the extraordinary job the country has done in conservation so far.

[@evidennt]

Preach 👍🏾👍🏾

[@jArgonauticon]

I want more leaders like this man.

[@alchemillaachillea4772]

Absolutely!

[@Langwigcfijul]

So I guess no one nor country can learn from their previous mistakes?

[@peterlem1]

Honestly, as a German, the point came across loud and clear. Also super funny to make such an offer.

[@inotaishu1]

Then where is my elephant, dammit???? I want my elephant!!!!!!

[@thebookkeeper0851]

@@inotaishu1 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@CP-28]

Botswana style 😊

[@fromhigherground4272]

And which point did you particularly pick up? As a German you are being very sketchy.

[@Dennan]

im pretty sure it was a threat not an offer :P

[@homemail9653]

It is amazing to have a president who is so connected to the operations of his country. He really knows what he is talking about, no representative.

[@haiio1348]

I love how Botswana is looking for a "middle-path", not forcefully, not authritarian, not rebellious; just rhetorics, concerns and an open-minded discussion. Lovely

[@SueChef100]

Politics listens to such lines

[@Alblaka]

I feel like if there's ever a 'president of United Earth' it will have to be an African politician. Obviously not all countries on the continent are running smoothly, but there's a few that have really excellent democratic leaders, of a caliber the west (or 'global north') no longer seems to be able to produce, probably because our too comfy living standards no longer necessitate having competent leadership to run our overly wealthy countries.

[@TheBlackfall234]

Using buzzwords like neo colonialism actually ruined it.

[@TopOfAllWorlds]

​@@TheBlackfall234 neo-colonialism is a word. How is using a word for it's intended purpose bad?

[@TheBlackfall234]

@@TopOfAllWorlds what about germany deciding not wanting to import ivory is neo-colonialism ?

[@whatkenyan7684]

I bet there are Germans who want their own elephants.

[@martinfiedler4317]

Why should the innocent elephants be punished? Let them live in beautiful Botswana! 😉

[@Michael-j4l3d]

​@@martinfiedler4317 no they need to to go to Germany and get trampolines

[@eingeist21]

@@martinfiedler4317 Germany >>>

[@wesleythomas7705]

If they can even survive in the environment knowing it gets cold in the winter, and also germany would have a massive new animal that would dominate other wildlife. And elephants during musk season is when they get extremely aggressive and would kill you without hesitation if it's rampaging.

[@Michael-j4l3d]

@@wesleythomas7705 That's literally the whole point, no joke the Botswana president explicitly stated that

[@chiepe100]

As a citizen of Botswana i can say our elephant problem is out of control. In the Okovango Delta/ Chobe area they are terrorising the locals. We have way too many.

[@karimmoorad9649]

Also they break down many trees which is a source of food for giraffes. If left uncontrolled, giraffes could be endangered. A giraffe grazing on a short tree as opposed to a much taller tree is at risk of not spotting predators and will likely be killed.

[@samjoshi1812]

I am unfamiliar with the area. How are they being terrorised?

[@prashanthak8286]

How about controlling the number of humans ?

[@roach7336]

So why don't the government give farmers more money to better defend themselves and their livestock?

[@karimmoorad9649]

@@samjoshi1812 they ravage through their crops and destroy properties. All the villages around the game reserves and national parks

[@qinisomkhize1431]

I which in my country South Africa we can have a president like Masisi that cares for his people. God bless Botswana 🇧🇼 🙏

[@LOUDMOUTHTYRONE]

Isn't South Africa a democracy?

[@dympnaoconnell6426]

President Masisi comes across as a very intelligent & sensible ruler. God bless him & keep him.

[@ursinecanine9657]

If he seems intelligent, you need education.

[@mariahewitt9787]

Talking Head.

[@klaiken989]

​@ursinecanine9657 lol, empirically. He is more educated than you or anyone in your family. That is a fact not boast 😂 Coming from an American

[@Niksg9424]

Regardless of the context, the head of state dropping in and saying "i might" outright is too funny

[@meerkats9317]

But I want to know how

[@ricardoxavier827]

The head of the state that lie online to justify psychopath industry.

[@jam6636]

@@meerkats9317 by plane, ship... it´s been done for centuries. And if the elephants don´t arrive safely to germany the world will judge the german government as responsible for the elephants welfare.

[@nelsonbwire2059]

Wow 20k to Germany! Seems every german home would have an elephant in the room😂

[@exelrode]

He also threatened to leave 10K elephants in Hyde park in london 😂😂

[@nelsonbwire2059]

😂😂

[@TheSakufighter]

I see math isn’t your strong suit

[@nelsonbwire2059]

@@TheSakufighter You fun at parties😂

[@TheSakufighter]

@@nelsonbwire2059 I tend to avoid gummy boozers at all costs. Parties are for the dullards who are plugged in to a sick society. No thanks.

[@michellearzu]

I have been to the Safari in Botswana as well as Chobe River. Indeed there are a looooooot of elephants. Thank you to Botswana for having me 🇧🇼

[@QueenetBowie]

Botswana is arguably the most stable African nation, has a ti crooning democracy, and has done a great job with conservation. I know trophy hunting doesn’t sit well with a lot of us but they’re hard to it to curb local populations (similar to deer in the US), and honestly this seems like their own matter to deal with.

[@ianmubangizi]

Now that’s a well spoken leader

[@idehenebenezer]

Jesus is returning soon🔥 Repent and turn away from your sins to obtain salvation 🤗🤗.

[@KateeAngel]

Well-spoken but is he logical? Germany can decide what not to import into their own borders at any time for any reason. They are only regulating their own territory and borders with this decision. Other countries has no right to tell them to import anything they don't want

[@ehmzed]

He certainly got his message across. I wouldn't have known anything about this issue, yet here I am watching a whole interview just because the title was interesting and unusual. Good job to him, he seems quite reasonable too

[@chayoto]

It was already hard addressing the proverbial elephant in the room. Imagine multiplying that by 20K.

[@user-rawe]

Lmao

[@zig738]

The human wildlife conflict is a very real issue. Rural communities are frustrated by the high population of elephants in places like Zimbabwe and Botswana.

[@KateeAngel]

Well it is humans who have 10-1000 (dependent on place) times bigger population density tha is natural for animals of our body size, not any other species

[@loctobert9421]

Would be great for DW to sent some journalists to report first hand about local situations. Like he said, to understand.

[@teardrop-in-a-fishbowl]

This, Botswanas issue with the elephant population, is reported several times in the past. It's not the case that this isn't known! What he wants to do is selling ivory on the bid of international dealers and let the rich come to pay for the killing! And he talks about other African countries not doing enough to save elephants. That's NOT of Germanys business. Why isn't he talking to those leaders? Environment and wildlife management can be done differently!

[@yasuke4593]

@@teardrop-in-a-fishbowlWell, Angola has taken 8000 elephants. And those African countries aren’t lecturing Botwsana like Germany is doing right now.

[@OberstStein]

Germany should accept this offer.

[@certaindeath7776]

Im Winter gibts nichts zu futtern, und die ganze Landschaft ist von Autobahnen und Eisenbahnen durchgerastert. Solche Tiere können bei uns nur im Zoo überleben.

[@lukas-kevynmuller6697]

Indeed we should - back to our safari lifestyles! on a serious note tho: it would destroy our infrastructure. We've got Streets, Highways and Train Tracks basically everywhere

[@hanipasha8859]

​@@lukas-kevynmuller6697yet we are impacted by Verdi strikes

[@takasmaka820]

There is too cold

[@felix__cs9916]

Crime to even think about that. Just thinking about the animals like products or a resource...wow, just illegal in an ecological sense on so many levels.

[@bauhousedesignersug4743]

Reminds me of the 1885 Berlin Conference. Europeans ‘saving’ Africa without the knowledge or consent of Africans.

[@wolfgangBuonarotti]

lol he said "we are only shipping bulk elephant orders at this time. no purchase necessary."

[@jonasf1275]

I am German and he spoke very well. I hope this issue can be resolved.

[@manupadayao]

Such an articulate president! He had solid arguments against each of the intervewier's points.

[@ernestavalenciute6279]

Visiting Botswana is in my future plans. ❤❤❤

[@franktakyi5241]

Much respect from Ghana Dr. Masisi🎉🎉🎉

[@j.jarvis7460]

Wow smartest, wisest, most intellectually educated leader I've probably ever heard that I can remember.

[@hostilebogeyinbound]

Something I never thought I would hear myself say. "I'm a fan of the President of Botswana." But I did just say that, and shared with all my friends!

[@kingn8link]

Very well spoken, articulate and direct. We need more leaders of countries like this tbh. Love from Canada 🇨🇦

[@modisaneunity4534]

How is Canada? Canadian dishes, wanna munch on those Im from Bots🇧🇼

[@kingn8link]

@@modisaneunity4534 it's nice, but cold in the winter. People from all around the world live here (in Toronto) so there's lots of different dishes to try

[@A3Kr0n]

Where is the elephant in the room?

[@thomask5434]

You mean the 20.000 that just destroyed Berlin? They went Richtung Dresden.....

[@terransunited]

Apparently in the room of German parliament

[@lorenzoblum868]

In the P5️⃣gon and any other place worldwide were conspiracies are being held in order to hijack ressources...

[@MrDisasterboy]

@@terransunited Up to 20000!

[@ricardoxavier827]

The elephant in the room are the moment he diverted from the idea of ofering the elephants to another african nations that accept to have them... His lies and psychopath goals got clear.

[@theorama5711]

It makes perfect sense why the people of Botswana elected Mr Masisi. All African countries should elect a person, not a party.

[@simba8665]

At least they can actually freely vote and not have their elections rigged like majority of African nations.

[@MaliBoraMusic]

well said👌

[@slamyourheadin9449]

Sounds like a dictator

[@KateeAngel]

There shouldn't be one person having much power at all. Society should be more egalitarian. With current technology ot is possible to make democracy more direct

[@theorama5711]

The implications here is that African elections, noticeably in Southern Africa, are unfortunately turning dictatorship due to blind party devotion. So called liberation parties continue to rule with controversy for years after independence, with corruption negatively affecting the masses. Ruling political parties, using "democracy" to retain eternal power have turned into dictatorships. The USA is not an exception, with Trump's MAGA cult, threat democracy?? Africans are learning to elect leadership the likes of President Masisi, party devotion is not working for us.

[@furcorn9804]

“We need to discuss the 20K elephants in the room”

[@Jay-wc5qd]

What a great way to place his argument. He is so well spoken and reasonable.

[@D.S.handle]

I am not German, but I say yes, Germany must have the elephants!

[@evidennt]

😂😂😂 let's see how they manage 20k elephants

[@anon8206]

I am German, and I also agree! The elephants will soon speak German!

[@Juststayhopeful]

​@@anon8206Elefant wird Botswanisch sprechen

[@gdhdi5339]

He's bloody right, on so many levels!

[@deinsilverdrac8695]

And so wrong on so many one too

[@MrDanisve]

@@deinsilverdrac8695 Where was he wrong? He seemed pretty educated and informed to me. I honestly agreed with him on every point.

[@gdhdi5339]

@@deinsilverdrac8695 What do you mean? He's an excellent leader for this country and its wildlife.

[@silentIm]

​@@FL-uv1xielephant as food source is not economically feasible because elephant is essentially wild animal, not domesticated enough. And they are smart too to the point they can act for revenge if their relative is killed. This is well documented. The elephant handler in the zoo relies on the elephant trust to not get injured or killed. Elephant is not cow, and it is cheaper to farm cow than elephant for food. If Europe push for ban for thropy import, what stop them to push for ban for meat import from protected animals?

[@nietzchan]

@@FL-uv1xi It seems you missed the point he's trying to make, he is showing the German government hypocrisy of banning the trophies to feel good about themselves but doesn't really help their conservation efforts. Maybe if the Germans had ten of thousands elephant to care of they will understand how difficult it is to take care of these majestic animals.

[@andromeda3780]

As a vet and specialized in wildlife diseases who love love all wild animals and in particular elephants, I deeply respect and appreciate this president. May the elephants population thrive more and more and always be protected by such a devoted decision makers like Mr. President of Botswana. Long live for the magnificent species ❤

[@arran10]

This interview has so much meme potential it's insane. I almost forgot that this is actually from the DW news itself 😂😂😂

[@der_municycler]

This president seems to know exactly what he is talking about. Like him

[@lunasmokezim1718]

Conservation from thousands of miles is easier said than done. Being Zimbabwean i understand that keeping animal counts in line with their environment is absolutely critical. Licenced hunts are one of the ways to cull their population. Elephants can destroy an entire ecosystem in larger numbers. Especially trees and vegetation. This affects other grazers like giraffes for example. Respect to this men, i'm tired of people running their mouths about issues they don't understand. If you can't assist in useful manner, then stick to German issues.

[@CosmicRockersHiFi]

Very true well said

[@katieee4915]

Germany also uses hunting to control their animal population Its not about that, its a blanket ban on hunting trophies from endangered species. You can still control your population in whatever way you want

[@D1groupEngineering]

Wabaya

[@JamesBond-006.5]

Agree, well said!

[@florian5670]

Hunting trophies being imported across the German border is a German problem. While elephant conservation in Botswana is not. This is about tourism and the economy, not about the elephants. I think the locals are able to hunt for themselves. I'm sorry about the hit on the economy though.

[@ophaketsephatshimo5152]

Master Sisiboy,a true gentlemen rare in politics,a blessing to our country Botswana!!

[@tobiasc4559]

I think there is a very basic / pretend misunderstanding here. Europe did not ban the import of ivory because Europeans would want to have those elephants or preserve them all. The import ban is meant to keep African countries from eliminating their wildlife for a quick buck, and that is still neccessary. Germany manages its wildlife, so can Botswana. Furthermore, to go hunting in Germany, you have to be a licensed hunter, not a tourist. Why should Germans support such a thing elsewhere?

[@awesomedavid2012]

Because it is not Germany's job to decide policy for Africa anymore. This is why the Botawanian president called it colonialist. Germany wants to sit back hundreds of miles away and tell Botswana what they should do, as if they know the issue better than the locals.

[@crusader__alex3520]

@@awesomedavid2012 every country has the right to reject certain products (or products from certain countries). whether the other country likes it or not. This have nothing to do with Colionist.

[@lorrdy7640]

@@awesomedavid2012 Oh no. The Germans want wild life to not be gone on world!

[@prettisibbs2176]

@@crusader__alex3520 they can’t even control their own wildlife crisis what right do they have to even comment double standard mantra they are colonialists hence their behaviours

[@Adamant_Adam]

@@awesomedavid2012 they never said They can't sell it elsewhere, just that Germany won't be a customer. Is Botswana that dependent on Germany?? I'm unsure, but I doubt it... This is more about someone being told "ok, you can do that, but not here on my turf," and one guy taking it as a personal attack because ego and entitlement; that's not colonialism. I hope that Botswana's people can manage their elephant populations, without their leaders making it the problem of other countries. They live there, why can't they hunt them? Is it about preventing elephants from causing damage, or is it about squeezing every last penny out of that elephant before you allow someone to kill it? (I understand my delivery/ choice of words is hard to understand over text, maybe even come across as rude, but I am asking this genuinely. To be clearer, If it IS such a problem, which we know it is, why do they HAVE to rely on foreign tourists from ONE country to bring back trophies? I am just a little confused at that argument. Is the German tourism to there that significant? Why not just shift gears to sell that product to other countries instead? If anyone from either of these two countries can shed more light, I would welcome and highly appreciate it.)

[@doriancoreyscloset421]

"I want the Germans to feel what we feel." Not the 1st time that's been said 😅

[@Maroke21]

Botswana is doing humanity such a BIG favor, let us all support them and follow in their footsteps

[@John-ht1hi]

The President response is amazing

[@simonguggemos4565]

More reason than all our leading politicians in Germany together... it's sad. All the best from Germany to all brothers and sister in Botswana!

[@vinzent1992]

Really like this guy, best way ever of bringing attention to your issue and I completely agree with him

[@deinsilverdrac8695]

Except he's wrong and will doom the species to extinction

[@TomTom-oh9up]

@@deinsilverdrac8695dude stop talking you’ve got no idea what’s he’s saying you’re so dense

[@OsirusHandle]

​@@deinsilverdrac8695nah theyre doing well

[@bystander1255]

Good for DW for presenting the other perspective on the issue

[@AmanYadav-lv9gt]

Henibal Barca has Returned 😅

[@doreenbotlhole216]

VERY VERY PROUD OF MY PRESIDENT 🇧🇼🇧🇼

[@lenawagner6405]

❤❤very proud of my neighbours and their brilliant president too, caring for their Ellie's and conservation in general! Us humans are greedy and undeserving of our own planet with its abundance of God's creation!!!!! Not caring and thinking properly about what is actually needed to live respectfully and sharing properly all round!

[@governormadea5937]

Never thought this is an actual problem.

[@Seeta_sa_gauta]

Lack of cooperation between governments . Animals still have a place here on earth, and we have predators that go hungry.

[@martiendejong8857]

My family lives in rural Kenya. People are killed by elefants on a weekly basis. They also destroy power lines, wells, farmland. More so than all other animals in the area combined.

[@GhostLGNDClashRoyale]

@@martiendejong8857 how is this germanys problem? You cannot force them to import things they don't want

[@martiendejong8857]

@@GhostLGNDClashRoyale then they should stop telling Africans what to do.

[@spiderduckpig]

@@GhostLGNDClashRoyale They're not actually sending elephants, what the they're saying is "if you want to lecture us on how to manage our elephants so badly, how about we send you some so you can see how difficult to manage they are?"

[@thepablyko]

botswana is doing amazingly in every field of sustainable development, western nations can´t criticise or impose our rule specially on those doing good

[@TheLadyaec]

It’s like when EU tried to charge SIDS for carbon footprints before understanding that they should pay for the damages.

[@smallmass]

Communities at the frontline of conservation need to be supported to ensure these communities and wildlife co-exist.

[@stomodino5443]

As a German I say we should ban trophy imports from countries where the animals are endangered and allow them from countries where the animals are well preserved like Botswana. Great words mr Masisi

[@anon8206]

As a German, I'd rather have the elephants than the "lawyers, doctors, scientists, and engineers"

[@ericanthony2852]

20,000 elephants in Germany? Where do we keep them? Bundestag 😂

[@ruvanefriebus-cv6td]

Not in a zoo bro

[@zayjay2765]

Aren't there already some sitting there grazing on Taxpayers 💶

[@ericanthony2852]

@@ruvanefriebus-cv6td Botswana didn't keep theirs in the zoo. They allocated 40% of their land mass to animals. Germany isn't that big to allocate even 10% for elephants.

[@samsmith2635]

I know a few warm places in Franconia and Baden Wurtemburg we could host them.

[@ericanthony2852]

@@SamSurrealism Botswana is twice as big as Germany. Botswana used 40% of its landmass for conservation. Even as at that, elephants still encroach on people's properties. Germany doesn't have where to keep 20,000 elephants.

[@handbanana4899]

“Where are their elephants?” If I was from Botswana, he’d have my vote.

[@petervalaris8496]

The man is right … Mr. Masisi is spot on

[@SajtosNokedli]

There should be a quota-system. 1 elephant / 25 000 inhabitants / EU member state.

[@luckyp.714]

Such a wonderful interview.

[@Cayles764]

Despite the thumbnail, it's not an offer. It's a threat to send the elephants without Geramany's consent 😂

[@titeagamiru1702]

Keen eyes can see a sense of pride from the interviewer, even he is happy to have such a sensible leader representing people who look like him.

[@LH-to8bi]

The amount of land put aside for the elephants are insane, this surely has a terrible impact on the economy of Botswana. But their people are dealing with the sacrifices while the wokies just expect it and make their lives harder at the same time. I agree with president Masisi, we cannot expect developing countries to also baby sit every endangered species. This should be a shared responsibility.

[@vladnickul]

I think Masisi just become my favorite african contemporary personality.

[@connor9x9]

Botswana has quickly become my favorite African country. This only cements it. Stay awesome Botswana 👍🏻

[@othomile]

I'm proud of how Masisi handled this and conducted this interview

[@trnogger]

How does a ban on importing trophies to Germany stop Botswana from culling its elephant population if they need to? One thing has got nothing to do with the other.

[@Yataro79]

Fair question. But it was partly answered: Income from hunting safaris. Or rather the lack of it.

[@Ragdoll00]

They want money, the more countries they can export to the more money they get

[@ChefMimsy]

Right. Hunting in order to mount an animal's head above one's fireplace is rather barbaric. Elephants are intelligent social creatures and the hunting of them is abusive and unnecessary. It' one thing if you're hunting for survival, but hunting for sport is just sick.

[@JD-tn5lz]

​@@ChefMimsyI've zero interest in hunting elephant, but I promise you there is much reward in most sporthunting. I doubt that you have ever hunted for food or sport, because you state an emotion rather than make a statement of experience.

[@Chiamex]

Hunting for food makes good sense, but not so much for sport. Obviously, elephants are sentient beings​ and should NOT be hunted for sport. Perhaps Botswana might consider birth control. It's been done for other overpopulated animals.@JD-tn5lz

[@scottcornford1644]

you are not required to purchase what someone wants to sell don't like it find another buyer

[@williamthatsmyname]

That's true. The problem is that the EU wants to prevent those who do.

[@ricardoxavier827]

He is reacting to the ban on world wide trophy hunting. Somehow he is believing that botswana are the hole world. The chinese and USA will not stop buying their psychopath pleasure services and products. So, his intervention are clearly visibility against nature protection world goals.

[@ivannapolsk9421]

Yet, it's the german government dictating to its citizens what they can or cannot freely buy from other countries.

[@OsirusHandle]

you can find a buyer for anything. white rhino horn. tiger teeth.

[@hemmojito]

What has Germany not been able to move to Germany? Mic drop right there😂😅😂 Absolute savagery

[@kagawaaaaa]

A very clear and well thought out comment on the issue by the President. Let's hope European and German officials will listen.

[@leonguyen896]

I'll take some if you don't want them. But seriously, we have a similar situation in the US. Misguided environmentalists who are opposed to hunting in all forms. However, the Dept of Fish and Wildlife's biologists say it's beneficial to the environment when populations are above carrying capacity. Plus the money from hunting tags goes directly to DFW's coffers, helping them manage the environment even more.

[@kitersrefuge7353]

Any country should be proud of having a president like that. Come on Germany cough up a couple billion Euros to Botswana...

[@layiajayi8985]

This man is on Point.

[@ShinyMew151]

You know, this might work. Elephants used to roam europe some 10k years ago

[@dv9239]

This is the most random thing that happened in 2024

[@veritybhengu8159]

Props to this man for being practical.

[@ricardoxavier827]

At the moment ghe diverted from the idea of just ofering the elephants to another close african nation, the lie and blackmail becomes clear.

[@KuriosDiogenesJar]

@@ricardoxavier827 In Zimbabwe they would be poached, with the connivance of well bribed. politicians. Germany is better at rules and regulation. Germany should purchase 20,000 .

[@jonasf1275]

as a German, we take the elephants

[@epaminon6196]

Germany accepting African ivory. Africans: "Colonialists!" Germany not accepting African ivory. Africans: "Colonialists!"

[@TheBlackfall234]

that indeed is a bit hypocritical. They would have had a good point, but they used the buzz-word neo-colonialism. Ultimately if Germany wants to ban import Hunting Trophys, its their right to do so. (however i have to mention that the german politics are working against its own people, so there are enough thinks to criticise "germany" for, besides this) Botswana acts as if it depends solely on German Hunters.

[@beckslemon10090]

Africa in a nutshell

[@KamalasNotLikeUs]

@@beckslemon10090European hypocrisy and colonialism in a nut shell

[@user-op6kt8pg9y]

​@@KamalasNotLikeUshow is it exactly? Nobody I stopping Botswana from hunting elephants

[@OsirusHandle]

they claim it is european view of controlling nature across the world, whilst also doing little in their own country.

[@zephaniah7387]

President Masisi has stood strong against this backlash with logical arguments. Kudos to him.

[@truthismycause2800]

What backlash? Germany just banned the import of elephant trophies to GERMANY. It has nothing to do with Botswana. It's a law made FOR GERMANY!

[@OLBarbok]

I am German and this man is adressing a problem even we citizens have with out government, old rules don't get adjusted to current times quickly enough (often never). Our politicians also love to overstep their authority and often talk and decide on things they know nothing about. We still have species protected that have long been reestablished into the country and are getting to overpopulation levels again or straight up are messing with citizens, like the Wolf still being protected despite no longer being endangered. tldr: Germany has a problem of incompetent politicians that love to talk on topics they know little to nothing about. You can mostly blame our left and green parties that are currently in charge for this even being a problem.

[@maxasaurus3008]

I am flabbergasted! The President of Botswana was on DW! Incredible! Botswana in my opinion is what Africa should look like.

[@DerDoMeN]

Botswana does it's balancing act. Germany should either really accept the elephants or at least populate with the brown bear.

[@blackforest_fairy]

well bears used to be native to middle europe in the past unlike elephants...

[@DerDoMeN]

@@blackforest_fairy I know :) And they still are (where I come from we still have them and we're part of middle Europe - and yes, I'm glad we have them and would even prefer if we wouldn't be limiting their population... as I feel that there's a different species that's over populating our lands). Now such large animals come with their own problems (just like having too many people on a small plot of land...). But Germany is lacking such large animals and still the people there pretend that they know what they're talking about and are preaching to others on the subject. I quite frankly don't care which large animal was where in the past (otherwise I'd say that they should introduce lions since Europe had it's own flavor way back when...) - I just want Germany to experience the feature of having large wild animals once more. And as far as I'm concerned having elephants instead of bears would be a fun experiment in more than one way :)

[@certaindeath7776]

@@DerDoMeN yeah we basically destroyed all habitats and made them human economic zone. In Austria (my country) 0.1% of the area is original forest. Almost all Forests here are Nutzwälder. The landscape is cut by roads and railways, almost every piece of land is for making profit for the landowners. Thats why almost all big wildlife is gone in middle europe. not even wolves can survive well here (they will be shot for the landowners). So the President of Botswana has a point. When we Europeans want to protect areas there, we have to compensate in some form.

[@MannIchFindKeinName]

@@DerDoMeNfirst wolves, then some big herbivores, and then just dont shoot every bear coming back :( We already sit somewhere around 1500-3000 wolves, and our farmers cry and complain like they live in the stables. Adding brown bears now would probably see them starve, there is almost no space thats not comercially used. We tell Brazil not to do, what we already did...

[@DerDoMeN]

@@MannIchFindKeinName Sry, you're right :) I misunderstood your comment at first... Have to stop quick glancing while working and a peace of code is eating away mi nerves...

[@basmca1]

'Who are they to tell us how to manage our conservation, when our conservation has been so succesfull' I think this is a very fair argument.

[@irvingnavarro1394]

Um going from 1.3 million elephants in the 80s to 400,000 doesn't seem like their doing fine 🥴

[@martinfiedler4317]

@@irvingnavarro1394 That statistic is for the whole of Africa - of which Botswana is only a small part. Today, Botswana has about 130'000 elephants. So close to a third of all in Africa. I'd call that substantially more than just "doing fine".

[@juliusjulius8786]

It was his, 'where are their elephants?'

[@eingeist21]

"Who are they?" A much more powerful country

[@issachaarwazulu1726]

Then do what your known for as your ancestors and see if we give a damn​@@eingeist21

[@maxkoller6315]

Wow! I learned a lot. Thank you!

[@bou_to_the_lest]

bring them to Burundi. The last elephant died in 93.

[@Vandelberger]

This has got to be the saddest argument in conservation terms.

[@KuriosDiogenesJar]

Recreational (not commercial) hunting has a centuries long history of good conservation and habitat preservation.

[@butterfish-g9f]

@@KuriosDiogenesJar I don't know about that. What exactly are you basing this on?

[@Randomaccount9470]

​@@butterfish-g9fhistory

[@pranovsaluja8067]

@@butterfish-g9f 1. When animals over populate they become invasive to the environment and other animal populations who have the right to share the same land. 2. When populations become too much there is conflict with humans and when humans become angry we devastate populations of those who hurt us without care to “conservation”. The government cant control all these humans if the elephants kill a human or destroy their property. Since we have a right to defend ourselves and our property against even other humans, how does a violent animal stand any chance? 3. Hunting licenses are very expensive and those funds are used almost exclusively for conservation. Further the licenses are only issued for animals that are causing the mentioned issues or are sick. 4. In terms of the elephants, humans endangered them because of Ivory which has nothing to do with hunting trophies, these are legit trade for african countries that support them to be able to conserve such large areas of their land mass. Hope that provides some insight!!

[@OsirusHandle]

uk has 90% of its forests gone. what right do we have to criticise borneo for chopping down 50%? or 90%? it is an issue.

[@Grothgerek]

I really dislike how this topic gets treated... we are literally in a ideocracy, were the topic with the funnier memes wins. People act like Germany forbids hunting in Botswana, which it doesn't.

[@vrubayka]

This guy claims that it's colonialism if Germany doesn't want people to bring animal body parts from hunting trips into the country. And half the comment section is cheering him. Idiocracy indeed.

[@Grothgerek]

@@vrubayka Its actually even worse. Botswana tries to influence germany to prevent the limitations in imports. Obviously its not on the same level, but it has the same basis as the opium wars with britain and china. Where Britain forced China to buy their drugs. Calling the behavior of other colonialism, while they themself imitate imperialistic ways of former colonial empires... quite ironic.

[@zacharyhenderson2902]

A ban on importing hunted mounts into Europe will, in effect, cause a incredibly Sharp dip in the number of European hunters coming to countries like Botswana, and thus also prevent their money from coming in. In. European hunters fly into Africa, help pay into African airports, pay into African resorts, pay into African conservation efforts through hunting programs, help support African tour guides, African hotels, African service workers, and help keep the population of African wildlife under control. Control. In a country like Botswana, which has already set aside huge tracks of land to conservation, a ban like that is nothing short of devastating.

[@thebookkeeper0851]

What they should do is allow the sales of trophies in countries where endangered animals are at peak population and ban sales of trophies in countries where endangered animals are still below peak population.

[@inotaishu1]

That might be a good idea because then local people have a financial incentive for a stable and healthy population.

[@eljanrimsa5843]

The problem is that nobody has been able to control the poaching and smuggling in other African countries most of which are much poorer than Botswana. Many African countries still have small Elephant populations left. If the ban is only partial, these elephant populations are in danger of getting wiped out.

[@johnsitumbeko732]

​@@eljanrimsa5843most African countries have limited budgets for animal conservation. Animals aren't on top of the list when it comes to public funding priorities. Botswana has less than 3 million people, that's very few people to take care of and so they can afford to spend huge resources, particularly resources that come in through trophy hunting (millions of dollars) on their conservation efforts. However at this time, their elephants are as much a cash cow as they are a threat to their human population. With Germany's move, the government will have no other reason to keep them around at the expense of their people's wellbeing. Germany knows exactly where their citizens get their trophies from and so this ban is not meant to discourage poaching (an illegal activity) in Africa, as you have seen, no other African country is protesting the ban. Germany's ban is targeting Botswana. I can assure you that smuggling animal parts is harder than smuggling drugs, especially into Europe. That's why 99% of people who engage into poaching get caught all over Africa. It is easily one of the most dangerous undertakings one can go into, because it is done in the wild at night and you can't use the roads which are heavily patrolled. Smuggling is an illegal activity which a ban cannot solve. People smuggle because they cannot legally import their kills. Germany's ban is uninformed.

[@eljanrimsa5843]

@@johnsitumbeko732 Since the legal trade in ivory has increased over the last 10-15 years, poaching and smuggling has also increased, and while Botswana has a well protected elephant population, many other elephant populations are threatened with extinction now. Before 1989, people would argue the way you do, that nobody can stop illegal poaching and African elephants will go extinct anyway, so why ban the ivory trade. But the ban on ivory trade in 1989 achieved the impossible, and African elephant populations did rise again in several countries, among them Botswana. Since then we know that seriously restricting the legal trade cuts down poaching, too, because smugglers have less opportunities to sell the ivory.

[@johnsitumbeko732]

​@@eljanrimsa5843I agree with you. But then Germany's ban is on the importation of hunting trophies by its own citizens. That ban would only stop Germans from going to hunt and legally bringing back their trophies, it would in no way stop smuggling.

[@bboylilizzi]

I thought the president sounded totally reasonable. I understood the challenges that he was talking about and dedicating 40% of the country to conservation is a great commitment and it is showing results. I realise now that the issue is far more nuanced than I thought.

[@joshualynch5532]

😊 bro he had me rolling at 10 minutes and 29 seconds. When has Germany ever had a problem moving anything it ever wants in Germany 😅😂