Elephants Protection Society
Working to Mitigate HEC and End Trophy Hunting in Botswana
Botswana is home to a third of all African elephants left on Earth – a global treasure and once the world’s last safe haven for these magnificent animals. But today they are trophy hunted in Botswana, adding to the other threats that endanger their survival – habitat loss, increasing conflict with humans over fewer resources, and the effects of climate change.
The local wildlife conservation organisation Elephants Protection Society (EPS) works to address two of these threats: trophy hunting and human-elephant conflict (HEC). Founded by Motswana conservationist Oaitsie (Oats) Nawa, EPS works with communities to educate them about elephants and ways to coexist with them.
One such campaign was EPS’s Elephant Awareness walk, which covered many districts and provided the opportunity to meet and speak with community members. Mr Nawa said: ‘Our goal was to help as many people understand how to co-exist with elephants without feeling threatened and compelled to kill these wonderful animals.’
‘Through the Elephants Protection Society, I aim to show that coexistence is not only possible, but it is the key to a better future for wildlife, people, and our shared heritage.’
Mr Nawa engaging with local youth. One of the core goals of the EPS is to educate people about elephants and raise public awareness in communities living in areas where wildlife has been endangered.
A current project is the construction of a buffalo fence to keep wildlife from entering human habitation areas, helping to avoid confrontations, save property, and mitigate the risks to humans and elephants. With the help of volunteers EPS built 30 km of fence.
Mr Nawa and team constructing Buffalo Fence to help keep wildlife away from communities.
Another ongoing initiative is the Shokomuka Elephant Coexistence Project, which aims to foster peaceful and profitable coexistence between humans and elephants in a farming village near the Okavango Delta, focusing on education, tools, and support to address human-elephant conflict.
Mr Nawa also petitions the government directly, and has called it out for failing to implement policies that protect wildlife corridors, which is driving increased conflict with humans.
‘The EPS runs on my determination to change our destructive modern approach to wildlife. I organise protest walks against elephant culling and trophy hunting, activities which do not benefit communities and only make elephants more aggressive, creating a never-ending cycle of harm for us all.’
EPS is seeking to galvanize conservation groups and NGOs in Africa and internationally into a strong coalition to urge President Boko not to resume elephant trophy hunting in 2026.
Please sign EPS petition to President Boko to Save Botswana’s Elephants: Protect the World’s Last Safe Haven
It states: ‘We Batswana call upon President Boko not to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor. It is time to restore Botswana as a global leader in conservation and a beacon of ecotourism. Let us end the colonial-era practices of rich foreigners coming to destroy the treasures of poorer countries for their entertainment. Instead, let us protect the wildlife that defines us, inspires millions, and supports our livelihoods.’
Follow EPS on Facebook.
Resources and media:
Ecoflix Podcast With Oaitse Nawa
In this illuminating and inspiring podcast, Oats Nawa explains his mission to tackle HEC and educate communities about elephants. He also addresses all the talking points of the trophy hunting debate.
Co-existing with Elephants
A short film about Botswana’s elephants and Mr Nawa’s mission.
EPS Blames Govt For Human/Wildlife Conflict – The Gazette, March 2025
New maps showing how elephant trophy hunting has changed over time, constructed from official government data. Download high resolution PNG maps.
New maps showing elephant trophy hunting zones and quotas, constructed from official government data. Download here.
Oaitsie Nawa