BOTSWANA sold 17,8 tons of ivory by auction to a group of Japanese buyers on Saturday, Ministry of Commerce and Industry deputy permanent secretary Vincent Selato confirmed on Monday. Proceeds from the sale, which were not divulged, are to be used to aid conservation, largely for the management of Botswana’s elephant population, which numbers between 80000 and 100000. Wildlife officials said the country could support no more than 53000 elephants. The ivory was from a stockpile gathered over the last 10 years during which Botswana has been prevented by Cites from trading in elephant products. The same group of Japanese buyers bought 20 tons at a similar Zimbabwean sale on April 13, while Namibia sold 12,4 tons on April 9.