Interview with Tebogo James

Tebogo James represents a community that has the rights to benefit from wildlife in a concession area bordering with Namibia. Since 2022, the only income they have derived is through hunting, although they would like to expand to photographic tourism in future. The hunting income from elephants and other wildlife has been used to purchase a vehicle, install solar electricity, improve Internet access, and build a supermarket. The overall goal is to bring goods and services closer to people living in remote villages and to improve their livelihoods. He views trophy import bans as unfair, since they would reduce the income for rural development and “suffocate” communities such as his.