Dec 6, 2013 | News
In the December edition of African Indaba, (a hunting newsletter) the author of one of the stories criticises The South African Professional Hunting Association (PHASA)for making ‘an about turn’ on its lion hunting policy. The author is a well-known hunter, and has been very vocal on his stance about hunting ethics. Yet he wrote how he justified shooting a buffalo from the vehicle and this was not wrong! A complete contradiction of the Rowland Ward Guild Membership Rules which he introduced, and within which specifically preclude this mode of hunting.
Embracing and adopting the lion hunting practice in South Africa is the boldest thing, in my opinion, that PHASA has done in the past decade. Here’s why:
Pressure on wild lions: There is limited research to indicate whether the harvesting of 600-plus lions in South Africa actually relieves the pressure on the hunted free-range lions around Africa. What is certain is that hunters who used to hunt, or have wanted to hunt lion outside South Africa, but have not got their trophy, or can’t afford to hunt anymore in countries like Zimbabwe or Tanzania, are turning to South Africa to hunt their lion. Why? At $100 000- plus for the chance of finding a lion, along with other complications like whether it is over six years in age (even though this method of testing is inconclusive), versus the security of knowing you will take your trophy for less than half that amount is a no-brainer for some hunters. This simple appeal for captive bred lions has to be good for the long-term plight of the wild lion.
Fair hunt: Most writers on the subject have not actually hunted one of these lions in South Africa, yet they are so quick to comment on how authentic or not the hunt is. Everyone is well versed on the captive breeding of superior trophy White Tails in the USA and the ever-growing practice with other species here in South Africa and Namibia – all in the quest to satisfy the inch-fanatic hunter.
Public perceptions: Try explaining the difference between a dead lion next to the big game hunter, be if from the free wilderness of Namibia or a captive-breed operation in Limpopo. The lion is dead and there is a delighted hunter next to the trophy, period. Where the lion originated is secondary to the fact that most members of the public cannot understand how we can hunt a lion. That is the hurdle we need to overcome!
Stop the squabble: What the industry’s now doing is focusing on how the chairs on the deck of the Titanic are placed instead of watching the iceberg on the horizon. Debating and engaging in internal battles about what is ethical or not, and which lions are fair game, instead of uniting and getting together to actually educate the world that there is a place for various types of lion hunting is where we are losing this window of opportunity:
Lions in my opinion can be:
- Captive bred and released on a 2500 acres or more (as per what PHASA has adopted).
- Bred on a game-fenced eco-tourism game reserve (one could argue this is, in fact, captivity) and then hunted there (which could be 25000 acres or more).
- Bred on a game-fenced reserve and then moved a 2500 acre property.
- Hunted on a state-owned free-range land
Time will tell whether this is the right decision that South Africa is adopting, but for now, it is legal, it helps promote hunting, and addresses a good number of needs within the industry. The countries that have free-range lions for now, great! But let’s stop the internal battles and work together.
Richard Lendrum – Publisher African Hunting Gazette
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.
Nov 26, 2013 | News
At the recent Indaba on the value of economic biodiversity, PHASA CEO Adri Kitshoff estimated the cost of rhino poaching over the past five years at R1,1 billion. The estimation was based only on the estimated value that would have been paid by hunters to have hunted the poached animals. The average price for rhino between 2008 and 2013 was R550 000 each. The estimate did not include the additional income derived from daily expenditure by visiting hunters, nor the impact of 400 000 hectares formerly used for rhino management now taken out of the conservation land pool.
Nov 26, 2013 | News
We spoke to some active outfitters in Mozambique regarding the renewal of hostilities. They informed us that after the devastating 20-odd-year internal war between the Frelimo and the Renamo movements, it took the wildlife in the country a long time to recover, especially in the areas where most of the fighting occurred.
Rampant poaching has also been an issue, and many concession owners have a hard time controlling the poachers, and some sources claim that it is because some poachers seem to be tied to local authorities who benefit from the ivory, fishing and bushmeat trade.
The inability of the government to attend to the CITES requirements for elephant management, resulted in the USA halting any ivory trophy imports from Mozambique, and which prompted CITES to suspend all hippo permits at the beginning of 2013 until further notice. There is also increasing talk of the EU also entering the fray and forbidding trophy ivory imports.
Despite these challenges, Mozambique has been growing as a hunting destination, and hunting companies have put a lot of effort into building infrastructure and increasing the herd count and diversity. Unfortunately the resurgence in hostilities is being viewed in a negative light by potential trophy-hunting clients, and outfitters are being inundated with concerned patrons. If there is a rash of cancellations, this will not bode well for the game. Hunters on the ground play a very effective role, with their presence in many instances a deterrent to poachers.
Lack of clients can also play havoc with the financial viability of hunting areas that are just beginning to recover, and Mozambique can lose a lot of the ground that has been gained.
Oct 23, 2013 | Bulletin - October 2013
October is Suicide month.
I have often heard the expression and, aside from the crazy hot weather, I thought there was no better time of the year! Summer’s in full swing, the hunting season is nearing the finish line, and, after arguably the greatest game of rugby earlier in the month, everything seems to be good. Except… life keeps sending curved balls (googlies, or off-spinners for the cricketers). Whether it is the government, poaching, exchange rates or competition, there are challenges to face. This monthly newsletter is aimed at being simple, quick, and, hopefully, of some help as you face the weeks and months ahead. Enjoy.
– Richard Lendrum
