Botswana has cancelled the licenses of two professional hunters after they shot and killed a research elephant.
They also destroyed its collar to try to conceal evidence, according to Reuters citing a statement by the environment and tourism ministry.
The professional hunters Michael Lee Potter and Kevin Sharp were said to have surrendered their licences.
Potter was banned for an indefinite period and Sharp for three years.
“In addition, the two hunters will replace the destroyed collar,” the ministry said.
“The Ministry will work with the hunting industry to ensure that the necessary ethical standards are upheld.”
A committee appointed by Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi to review a hunting ban on elephants, recently handed its recommendations on the issue.
Former president Ian Khama imposed the hunting ban in 2014 after surveys showed declining wildlife populations in the north of the country.
Botswana wants to lift the hunting ban on big game to avoid the growing conflict between humans and wildlife.
The country is now home to 130,000 elephants.
Botswana’s travel and tourism economy grew 3.4% to exceed $2.5 billion in 2018.
It now contributes almost one in every seven dollars in the country’s economy, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
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