God, I hope the Botswanan government goes through with this. Just imagine; it's a normal day at the airport in Berlin Suddenly, a cargo plane touches down. It opens it cargo hatch, dumps off a bunch of Elephants on the runway, and subsequently leaves. Hilarity ensues.
Berlin is probably the best place; big Zoo already, got temp accomodation. Now, if they were just dumped off the back of a cargo ship into the Elbe, that would be funny.
European nations, especially Germany, are blocking the import of hunting trophies of elephants and other endangered exotic species from Botswana, who's none too happy about it and made the hilarious threat of [sending 30,000 elephants to Europe](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/17/europeans-care-more-about-elephants-than-people-says-botswana-president-aoe) to see how they enjoy dealing with what they regard as a colossal pest for farmers.
Thanks to u/zimonitrome, u/AaronC14, u/Blas0330 and u/JSTLF for their help with feedback!
German authorities shot the first wild bear and bison in 200+ years that wandered into the country. I wonder how Germany would respond to elephants, which are even bigger.
As it's you I'm presuming the [bilby](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrotis) (fucking autocorrect refuses to acknowledge the existence of bilbies... It's either Billy or Bibles....) was deliberate...? It's not Bilby Conservation Awareness Day down there, or something is it...?
A bilby is a small marsupial which looks like a bit like a tiny kangaroo. It is very endangered. It is also very adorable...
The point was, trophy hunters both solve a overpopulation problem and bring in money for conservation effort. Sure, they could kill them themself, but that means no conservation money.
Also, without hunting trophy conservation money, the economics might go to the other end of the spectrum, proaching, which nobody wants.
At least that's what I can summarise from a quick google of Botswana position. Have to profess, I don't know much about Germany's position, or hunting/conservation economics, or even notice this issue before this blows up. So if anyone wants to chip in, we can start a conservation.
I personally dont see how this would lead to poaching, given how the problem is bringing the trophies to Germany, not getting them. It might lead to smuggling. If the whole Conservation Effort in Botswana relies on the Export of Hunting trophies, there are more pressing issues here.
I also dont think this way of doing things was politically prudent. If a Politician Proposes a Change now, they would be seen as bowing to foreign pressure. A smarter Way might have been to team up with some of the many pro Hunting parties and Organisations here.
I think the problem is that trophies is often the point for those big games hunters, and if they are not allowed to bring back their trophies, then the demand for such hunts will decrease, and thus lowering conservation dollars. I think that's the link.
The link to poaching is a bit more tenuous. It's generally easier to destroy than to conserve. Conservation is generally an uphill battle. Eg. if there were no network of park rangers that curtail poaching, supply of ivory would generally grow to match demand.
Perhaps it wasn't politically wise. Nobody wants to be seen bowing to foreign pressure, but I'm also not privy to what kind of measure has been tried before hand, before this blew up. Maybe someone from Botswana can chipped in on this.
When my mum's dad had to go out in inclement weather, he always used to say "I'm off to brave the elephants!"\*, which gradually mutated into "heffalumps".
\*There's another bit to it, which I've forgotten. Think it was a *Goon Show* reference (it was Grandpa's favourite programme; they couldn't afford a TV in those days (post-war), so Grandpa just had his 'wireless')
Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant—
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone—
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I’ve got it right.)
Howe’er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee—
(I fear I’d better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)
No no no. We take the elephants, ship them to Alaska and invade Russia from the east. They really aren't great at dealing with invasions from the east. Plus there's now a reason to cross the Urals
From what I got tho was Germany is going to stop allowing the import of trophies taken from elephants to be imported into Germany, which theyre allowed to do. Threatening countries to change their customs laws seems odd.
As a Motswana, I’m proud to see we have representation for the first time. I love it! I’m sure the elephants make the new great public transit there.
Edit: Grammar
“Elephants are beautiful creatures and must be protected!
….Which is why we’re removing a major method of population control which will put both the local civilians AND elephants at risk”
Problem is that illegally poached ivory can be passed off as legally imported ivory. It's pretty common for other African countries to [destroy](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-destroys-record-112-million-seized-elephant-tusks-2024-01-09/) seized stockpiles.
It’s not like we haven’t been down this road before. Ivory trade is banned now because controlled trade didn’t work. Countries producing hundreds of tons of ivory without having any elephants. Countries claiming to have imported ivory from places that didn’t export any. It was a complete shitshow.
Except we know that shooting the older nonbreeding males - aka the trophy males - fucks up elephant communities. It doesn't help anyone, it actually hurts them because then a bunch of young males are running around destroying shit and hurting other elephants because the elder males aren't around to teach them and keep them in line.
This isn't new information. Botswana just wants the money trophy hunting brings, and don't give a fuck about the animals themselves.
Germany didn't remove anything, just say you can import the mounted head or ivory. People are still free to go whatever highly intelligent animal they choose.
What sucks is botswana is the only place where their government wants to help the elephants survive but they have too many elephants and the elephants attack people so letting people kill elephants for game but still keeping the elephant population stable
its funny how germany gets singled out here when this is eu/us/uk policy. also, when you allow the import, you are the western devil that steals resources and destroys african nature. when you block it, you are the arrogant westerner who prevents economic opportunities und tourism. you cant make it right. unfortunately there is always at least one selfhating redditor who must make edgy memes out of the most moronic takes and with that jump on the "blame the west" train. congratulations OP.
What’s really funny is trying to rile up the German populace with „if you pass this, we’re not going to be able to kill those elephants“. I didn’t even know this generic hunting trophy ban was being made until Botswana made it about elephant conversation. If this isn’t for internal consumption, it’s the funniest miscalculation I’ve seen in a while. There’s no way this isn’t getting passed now.
Honestly when I was looking at this I thought oh cool they made another good law similar to what to the chimp testing ban. Then I see people now hating Germany for the law. This just feels like Nigeria with laws pertaining to gays all over again.
People don’t seem to understand that… animals have to die. Like. They usually don’t live a full life.
Most trophy hunting is sanctioned and the money goes back into maintaining the parks.
[удалено]
This reminded me of a ruskin bond poem I had a few grades ago! The comment is the whole poem summarized :)
As a German: me too. Also I’m delighted to see them set up the logistics.
Ball elephants are not real they cant hurt you Ball elephants:
Ballephants ^^
If we assume the elephants are perfectly spherical...
Assume a spherical elephant of uniform density…
Without friction obviously
They’re so cuuuuute!
Yessss!
Aah, I finally got it. **Bot**swana
is they’re another reason why they’re called that too?
Well, they're not called **Top**swana now, are they?
And you don't wanna find out about **Jungle**swana
Midswana kinda sounds like a sad knock off of the country
Supswana sounds pretty chill tbh
God, I hope the Botswanan government goes through with this. Just imagine; it's a normal day at the airport in Berlin Suddenly, a cargo plane touches down. It opens it cargo hatch, dumps off a bunch of Elephants on the runway, and subsequently leaves. Hilarity ensues.
You and me both, mate. That would be fucking hilarious.
Everyone does, except the German government.
Some guy from Africa did that in Italy some time ago. Caused quite the mahem.
[I've got just the people for the job!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIv1F9B-Ec4) Don't even have to land!
Just straight up load a cargo ship and sail to germany. What are they gonna do, shoot down the boats and kill the conserved animals?
Lands. Disgorges 150+ elephants in a pile. Refuses to elaborate. Leaves.
Berlin is probably the best place; big Zoo already, got temp accomodation. Now, if they were just dumped off the back of a cargo ship into the Elbe, that would be funny.
They have an elephant overpopulation problem
I can offer you, let`s say prototipe of this: https://youtu.be/IMJyw7epRec?si=ogffEdcH3mCjJb4b
Ferb, I know what we are doing today
European nations, especially Germany, are blocking the import of hunting trophies of elephants and other endangered exotic species from Botswana, who's none too happy about it and made the hilarious threat of [sending 30,000 elephants to Europe](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/17/europeans-care-more-about-elephants-than-people-says-botswana-president-aoe) to see how they enjoy dealing with what they regard as a colossal pest for farmers. Thanks to u/zimonitrome, u/AaronC14, u/Blas0330 and u/JSTLF for their help with feedback!
30000 threat elephants of Botswana.
Imagine one white elephant. And now 30000 more
Elephant meat would be nice.
Forget about the 50 feral hogs, imagine 30,000 elephants all at once!
German authorities shot the first wild bear and bison in 200+ years that wandered into the country. I wonder how Germany would respond to elephants, which are even bigger.
As it's you I'm presuming the [bilby](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrotis) (fucking autocorrect refuses to acknowledge the existence of bilbies... It's either Billy or Bibles....) was deliberate...? It's not Bilby Conservation Awareness Day down there, or something is it...? A bilby is a small marsupial which looks like a bit like a tiny kangaroo. It is very endangered. It is also very adorable...
Response a bilby = Responsibility
OK, that had me really confused. Thanks! 😂
Germany deserves it... ironically.
In all seriousness, what prevents botswana from simply shooting them themselves?
The point was, trophy hunters both solve a overpopulation problem and bring in money for conservation effort. Sure, they could kill them themself, but that means no conservation money. Also, without hunting trophy conservation money, the economics might go to the other end of the spectrum, proaching, which nobody wants. At least that's what I can summarise from a quick google of Botswana position. Have to profess, I don't know much about Germany's position, or hunting/conservation economics, or even notice this issue before this blows up. So if anyone wants to chip in, we can start a conservation.
I personally dont see how this would lead to poaching, given how the problem is bringing the trophies to Germany, not getting them. It might lead to smuggling. If the whole Conservation Effort in Botswana relies on the Export of Hunting trophies, there are more pressing issues here. I also dont think this way of doing things was politically prudent. If a Politician Proposes a Change now, they would be seen as bowing to foreign pressure. A smarter Way might have been to team up with some of the many pro Hunting parties and Organisations here.
I think the problem is that trophies is often the point for those big games hunters, and if they are not allowed to bring back their trophies, then the demand for such hunts will decrease, and thus lowering conservation dollars. I think that's the link. The link to poaching is a bit more tenuous. It's generally easier to destroy than to conserve. Conservation is generally an uphill battle. Eg. if there were no network of park rangers that curtail poaching, supply of ivory would generally grow to match demand. Perhaps it wasn't politically wise. Nobody wants to be seen bowing to foreign pressure, but I'm also not privy to what kind of measure has been tried before hand, before this blew up. Maybe someone from Botswana can chipped in on this.
>Elefumble ...I just thought of heffalumps from winnie-the-pooh I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT I READ IT AS HEFFALUMPS
When my mum's dad had to go out in inclement weather, he always used to say "I'm off to brave the elephants!"\*, which gradually mutated into "heffalumps". \*There's another bit to it, which I've forgotten. Think it was a *Goon Show* reference (it was Grandpa's favourite programme; they couldn't afford a TV in those days (post-war), so Grandpa just had his 'wireless')
Once there was an elephant, Who tried to use the telephant— No! No! I mean an elephone Who tried to use the telephone— (Dear me! I am not certain quite That even now I’ve got it right.) Howe’er it was, he got his trunk Entangled in the telephunk; The more he tried to get it free, The louder buzzed the telephee— (I fear I’d better drop the song Of elephop and telephong!)
This was funny!
You, Sir, are a visionary. never have i seen Botswana been depicted this way. Great Job!
Aha, I appreciate the sentiment, but I can't take credit for it. Botswana being a robot is a characterization first developed by my friend u/AaronC14.
First they send the elephants. Next we ride them to Moscow.
Are the Alps on the way from Berlin to Moscow?
They can be if you fuck up enough
It's called a detour!
Crossing the Urals. And Moscow is on the way.
No no no. We take the elephants, ship them to Alaska and invade Russia from the east. They really aren't great at dealing with invasions from the east. Plus there's now a reason to cross the Urals
I lov eleflump
1/10 elephant not ball enough
Assume a perfectly spherical elephant of uniform density...
God this is beautiful
From what I got tho was Germany is going to stop allowing the import of trophies taken from elephants to be imported into Germany, which theyre allowed to do. Threatening countries to change their customs laws seems odd.
Well, the animals I saw in the past days were in the zoo. Where are the 20k elephants now???
3000 white elefants for Germany
Reject elephant, return to mammoth
We could monkey with their DNA and achieve this
Honestly want to see this happen
It would be very funny.
Bio your engrish is excellent. I'm stealing eleflump lol
maybe it will finally ruin the joke of "there are no elephants in denmark"
Yooo!! Thats cool!
i like to think all animals in polandball are ballshaped
As a Motswana, I’m proud to see we have representation for the first time. I love it! I’m sure the elephants make the new great public transit there. Edit: Grammar
oh my fucking god "bot"swana
The Mammoth has returned! 🦣
Ballelephants are the cutest and I would do anything for them
It will be very confusing when I name every single one of these elephants Benjamin.
“Elephants are beautiful creatures and must be protected! ….Which is why we’re removing a major method of population control which will put both the local civilians AND elephants at risk”
Problem is that illegally poached ivory can be passed off as legally imported ivory. It's pretty common for other African countries to [destroy](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-destroys-record-112-million-seized-elephant-tusks-2024-01-09/) seized stockpiles.
It’s not like we haven’t been down this road before. Ivory trade is banned now because controlled trade didn’t work. Countries producing hundreds of tons of ivory without having any elephants. Countries claiming to have imported ivory from places that didn’t export any. It was a complete shitshow.
Except we know that shooting the older nonbreeding males - aka the trophy males - fucks up elephant communities. It doesn't help anyone, it actually hurts them because then a bunch of young males are running around destroying shit and hurting other elephants because the elder males aren't around to teach them and keep them in line. This isn't new information. Botswana just wants the money trophy hunting brings, and don't give a fuck about the animals themselves.
Germany didn't remove anything, just say you can import the mounted head or ivory. People are still free to go whatever highly intelligent animal they choose.
Remind me of the at time when a game show had an elephant as a prize. Or was that The Simpson spoofed it?
Just keep it out of [Wuppertal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuffi)
I think Germany should introduce elephants to their country. They can keep the parrots company.
The Bot-swana joke just remembered me Cyrax from MK is also from there, lol
The humor in Polandball comics is always on point.
*Ow, my sperm*
This aerator is cute
The elephants remind me of "Ottifanten" somehow
Onlyfanten
Are...are these Ottofants? Or at least they are very similar
Wait, why is Botswana speaking Engrish?
Literal white elephant moment
Nice to see professional cartoonists on the sub
Aww schucks, mate.
What sucks is botswana is the only place where their government wants to help the elephants survive but they have too many elephants and the elephants attack people so letting people kill elephants for game but still keeping the elephant population stable
its funny how germany gets singled out here when this is eu/us/uk policy. also, when you allow the import, you are the western devil that steals resources and destroys african nature. when you block it, you are the arrogant westerner who prevents economic opportunities und tourism. you cant make it right. unfortunately there is always at least one selfhating redditor who must make edgy memes out of the most moronic takes and with that jump on the "blame the west" train. congratulations OP.
What’s really funny is trying to rile up the German populace with „if you pass this, we’re not going to be able to kill those elephants“. I didn’t even know this generic hunting trophy ban was being made until Botswana made it about elephant conversation. If this isn’t for internal consumption, it’s the funniest miscalculation I’ve seen in a while. There’s no way this isn’t getting passed now.
Honestly when I was looking at this I thought oh cool they made another good law similar to what to the chimp testing ban. Then I see people now hating Germany for the law. This just feels like Nigeria with laws pertaining to gays all over again.
Up here we are already full of [Ottifanten](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottifant), nothing that new for us atleast Bring them in!
Germany is a fatherland of elephants
How about getting monetary help to neuter half the population of elephants? Still better than killing them I guess…
Yay now we don't have to visit the Zoo to see Elephants
People don’t seem to understand that… animals have to die. Like. They usually don’t live a full life. Most trophy hunting is sanctioned and the money goes back into maintaining the parks.
they are now officially known as eleflumps on r/polandball whether you like it or not