Nov 26, 2013 | News
According to an article by Antoinette Slabbert in Moneyweb, game ranching yields better returns than the JSE. The South African game industry’s annual turnover has grown from R62 million to R864 million over the last ten years, as measured by game and livestock marketer Vleissentraal’s auctions. Game farming gives a higher return per hectare than any other farming activity. The bulk of the revenue over the last ten years was from rare species (R788 million).
A total of 9,825 plains game and 1,751 rare game was sold last year. Taking into account the value of the offspring and production cost, it is estimated by a rare species game rancher that the annual return on capital employed can be 84.86% per year on nyala, 130% on black impala breeding with regular impala ewes. In comparison, last year the JSE All Share Index (ALSI) showed a total return with dividends reinvested of 26.68%. Game breeding also clearly outperforms investment in property, which has a typical return of 10%.
Demand seems to be driven by trophy hunting. Restrictions on hunting in countries like Botswana, Tanzania and Zambia have benefited the South African hunting industry, and the rest of Africa is perceived as dangerous.
The annual income from international hunters in 2010 was estimated at R557 million. This includes the hunter’s day fees (safari, accommodation, etc.), as well as the trophy fees for animals hunted. It excludes the value added by taxidermy, flights, sightseeing activities, rifle import permits, etc.
Nov 26, 2013 | News
Wildlife Ranching South Africa recently announced its own catarrhal fever insurance fund. It will enable game ranchers to ensure themselves against claims by cattle ranching neighbours for damage suffered if cattle attracts catarrhal fever from game. WRSA foresee that wildebeest will be one of the main resources. Game ranchers will pay a VAT inclusive premium of R 1,824.00 per annum and the cover for the first year will be R 1,000,000. Contact WRSA (http://www.wrsa.co.za) for more information.
Nov 26, 2013 | News
WRSA commissioned the North West University to conduct extensive research to serve as basis for the development of a strategic document for the game-ranching industry.Absa bank sponsors the research. The research will be published in mid-2014 and will serve as basis for the WRSA’s interaction and partnering with government to enhance the economic viability and growth of the industry.
Nov 26, 2013 | News
It has been reported that the Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete announced the re-activation of the country’s Operation Tokomeza anti-poaching campaign launched in September. The campaign was temporarily suspended on 1 November when claims of human rights abuses were raised against it. The President said that the government would investigate the complaints of abuses during the campaign. The report quotes President Kikwete as having said to the Tanzanian Parliament that: ‘We are going to rectify such mistakes and take to task culprits, and later continue with the mission to fight poachers and protect elephants from imminent extinction’. Kikwete apparently also said that abandoning the operation would be tantamount to letting the poachers win, and that the efforts should continue as animals were being slaughtered at alarming rates.
Nov 26, 2013 | News
Tanzanian officials recently impounded 89 elephant tusks with a street value of almost US$ 700,000 at a roadblock near the Masasi township. The Tanzanian Natural Resources and Tourism Minister, Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki, requested that his ministry be afforded some time before it exposes all the perpetrators.
Three suspects of Chinese origin were arrested shortly after the government suspended Operation Tokomeza following complaints of victimization. The men were arrested at Mikocheni with 706 pieces of tusks, the value of which still has to be determined.
Nov 26, 2013 | News
The possessors of cyanide used to poison elephants in the Tsholotsho region of Zimbabwe had dumped cyanide on a path near Pelandaba Primary School. The dumping occurred a week after the government deadline for its surrender. Since our report last month, some controversy surrounding the number of elephants that had been poisoned has arisen, with figures between 100 and 300 being bandied about. It is reported that the Zimbabwe Police have already arrested nine suspects in this matter.
