Embassy of the Republic of

Botswana in Sweden

Botswana

Embassy of the Republic of

Botswana in Sweden

LIFE-SIZE IVORY ELEPHANT SCULPTURE UNVEILED IN BOTSWANA

A towering elephant sculpture made entirely from ivory tusks will now greet arrivals at Gaborone’s international airport, in Botswana––a poignant symbol of the country’s commitment to protecting wild elephants. The 2.5-ton sculpture, constructed from the tusks of animals that died of natural causes, was unveiled today by the president of Botswana, Ian Khama, at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.

LIFE-SIZE IVORY ELEPHANT SCULPTURE UNVEILED IN BOTSWANA

Speaking at the unveiling, the president said the sculpture was intended “to raise our collective consciousness about the plight confronting the African elephant.” The most recent estimate of elephant numbers in Africa, from 2007, is between 472,000 and 600,000. Around a third of them are within the borders of Botswana.

Poaching rates of elephants have surged during the past three years, fueled by rising demand for illegal ivory in Asia, mostly China. A 2014 study revealed that between 2010 and 2012, up to 100,000 elephants were slaughtered for their ivory. The placement of the elephant sculpture at Botswana’s capital city airport is symbolic, as it represents the international dimension of the illegal ivory trade, president Khama said. “Much of the ivory that leaves the borders of African elephant range states finds its way out in the cargo holds of aircraft and the baggage of passengers.”

 The president commended the efforts by Prince William and the Royal Foundation, who recently set up a task force that will work to shut down the transport arteries of the criminal syndicates who run the illegal ivory trade. Khama also called upon countries that conserve elephants—the range states—in Africa to join the Elephant Protection Initiative. Launched by the Botswana government, this project strives, among other things, to close all domestic ivory markets.“Legal ivory trade cannot and must not be used to launder the illegal ivory in the hands of the criminal syndicates,” he said.

Six artists––coordinated by Joseph Piet––took three full months to complete the ivory sculpture. The sculptors came from a youth artist, community-based project called Thapong Visual Arts, based in Gaborone.Khama congratulated all those involved in the work. He said the elephant “will serve as a reminder to all who pass through this building that one live elephant is worth so much more than all the pieces of art made from ivory gathering dust in homes far removed from the African plains

 

News & events
Update on Covid19 restrictions in Botswana - September 2022

Update on Covid19 restrictions in Botswana - September 2022

On the 28th of September 2022, the Government of Botswana lifted all restrictions concerning the...

GLOBAL EXPO BOTSWANA

Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) will host the fifteenth edition of its premier busin...

LIFTING OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

His Excellency the President Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi has approved the lifting of in...

COVID-19 RELIEF FUND

The Government of Botswana wishes to inform members of the public that a Relief Fund that will a...

Public Notice

The Embassy is temporarily closed from 23rd March 2020 to 04th April 2020. This is in response t...

COVID -19 PRESS RELEASE

The Government of Botswana has been closely monitoring the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak, n...

BOTSWANA’S FIRST AIRPORT CITY

Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) has awarded a P100 million project to Bothakga Burrow fo...

INTRODUCTION OF BOTSWANA BLUE CARD

The Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs informs the public that Government h...

QATAR AIRWAYS LANDS IN BOTSWANA

Qatar airways made its maiden landing of QR1377 in Gaborone, Botswana this afternoon at 1645hrs....

ADJUSTMENT OF VISA FEES, ABOLITION OF FEES IN CERTAIN VISA CATEGORIES AND INTRODUCTION OF PAYMENT FOR VISA IN CONVERTIBLE FOREIGN CURRENCY

The Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs (MNIG) informs the public that imple...

Botswana Embassy

Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Sweden

Address:

Tyrgatan 11

Stockholm, Sweden

see on map

Postal: PO Box 26024, SE 100 41
Telephone: +46 8-545 258 80
Fax: +46 8-723 00 87
Email:
Opening hours: 09.00 – 13.00
  14.00 – 17.00
  (Weekdays)