India, Dec. 21 -- Wildlife conservationists are alarmed by the sharp increase in elephants and other wildlife that Botswana continues to put on its annual hunting quotas, a move they say is detrimental to the long-term term survival of the species.

This follows the publication of a draft wildlife hunting quota for 2026 which increases elephants on offer to trophy hunters from the 410 for this year (431 actually hunted) to 430, and for the first time includes 10 lions and other members of the big cat family. In all, the draft quota lists 2,299 animals spread across 17 species.

The country, which is home to 140,000 elephants - the world's largest - has also infuriated conservationists by proposing a year-round elephant hunting calendar. U...