Botswana's government has revoked the licences of two professional hunters who shot dead a research elephant and then destroyed its collar to try to hide the evidence. In a statement last night, the environment and tourism ministry said that professional hunters Michael Lee Potter and Kevin Sharp had surrendered their licences after shooting the elephant at the end of last month. Botswana's government has revoked the licences of two professional hunters who shot dead a research elephant and then destroyed its collar that gave it protected status (stock photo)'In addition, the two hunters will replace the destroyed collar,' the ministry said. The shooting recalled the killing of 'Cecil the lion' by an American hunter in neighbouring Zimbabwe in 2015, also an animal that had a research collar and was supposed to be protected. Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi sparked global controversy when he lifted a ban on elephant hunting in May.

Source: Daily Mail December 15, 2019 17:26 UTC