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
Oct 23, 2013 | Bulletin - Oktober 2013
Oktober is glo Selfmoordmaand.
Dié uitdrukking het ek al baie gehoor en behalwe vir die ongewone hitte, glo ek nog altyd dat daar nie ‘n beter tyd van die jaar is nie! Somer is in volle swang, die jagseisoen staan einde toe en na waarskynlik die beste rugbywedstryd vroeër die maand, lyk alles voor die wind. Behalwe … dat die lewe aanhoudend goël- en streepballe (vir krieketspelers) boul. Daar is altyd uitdagings; ongeag of dit die regering, wisselkoerse, of mededingers is. Hierdie maand se Bulletin is gemik op eenvoud, spoed en hopelik bruikbare inligting vir die komende weke en maande. Geniet dit.
– Richard Lendrum
Oct 23, 2013 | Bulletin - October 2013
I am busy getting a pool built at my house, as we had to sell off the land in our garden where our old pool was. The supplier we’re going to use is not a brand name in the pool business, (although we did contact all the brand names to get a quote).
He is completely unknown to me and, you might ask, what’s this got to do with hunting? Well, it boiled down to who responded first to our general request off a pool-quoting website. He answered within an hour and was at the house showing more enthusiasm than anyone else. His quote was detailed and he broke down everything for me. The big brands said, ‘Oh the price would be about this!’
I have heard various hunters saying the reason they chose XYZ Outfitter was because he answered their e-mail first, and sometimes your marketing is distilled down to this one simple task. Nothing fancy, nothing lavish. No great display of what areas, how much experience or what trophies you have available – just a case of showing good old customer service, and simply answering your e-mail. And that is where I leave it for the month.
Oct 23, 2013 | News
The death sentence issued to Zimbabwean game ranger Maxwell Borwa has been making headlines. The deceased had apparently been a member of a poaching and trafficking cartel which operated between the small town of Norton outside Harare and the Gokwe area. Zimbabwe National Parks and Police apparently sanctioned a combined operation to raid a known safe house used by the poachers.
When the Parks and police details arrived at the house, numerous suspects were still partying amid a plethora of unlicensed firearms. The suspects then bolted. Maxwell Bowa is said to have fired some rounds, two of which struck and killed one Lenna Nkosana. At least one of the shots apparently hit Nkosana in the back.
The possession of an unlicensed firearm in Zimbabwe is a Schedule One offence. Lethal force may be used to apprehend someone in respect of a Schedule One offence. Because of the local townspeoples’ reaction, the rangers and police withdrew and returned the next day.
Zimbabwe also has the Parks and Wildlife Indemnity Act in terms in which Bowa is apparently supposed to have been protected. The trial magistrate ruled that the P&W Indemnity Act only applies within the Parks and Wildlife Estate and sentenced Borwa to death. This ruling’s correctness is in dispute.
National Parks is said to be lodging an appeal on behalf of Borwa.
Oct 23, 2013 | Bulletin - Oktober 2013
Die doodstraf wat aan die Zimbabwe wildbewaarder Maxwell Borwa opgelê is maak opslae. Die oorledene was blykbaar ‘n lid van ‘n kartel wat strooptogte en smokkelhandel tussen die klein dorpie Norton buite Harare en die Gokwe gebied bedryf het. Zimbabwe National Park en Polisie het blykbaar ‘n gesamentlike klopjag op die rowers se skuilplek goedgekeur.
Toe die Parke en Polisie groepe by die skuilplek opdaag was talle verdagtes besig om fees te vier tussen ‘n oorvloed onwettige vuurwapens. Die verdagtes het toe gevlug. Maxwell Borwa het verskeie skote afgevuur, twee waarvan ene Lenna Nkosana getref en gedood het. Ten minste een van die skote het Nkosana blykbaar in die rug getref.
Die besit van onwettige vuurwapens is ‘n Skedule Een oortreding in Zimbabwe. Dodelike geweld mag gebruik word om ‘n Skedule Een oortreder vas te trek. As gevolg van die dorpenaars se reaksie moes die wetstoepassers die aftog blaas om die volgende dag terug te keer.
Zimbabwe beskik oor die Parke en Wildlewe Kwytskeldingswet waarkragtens Borwa blykbaar beskerming moes geniet. Die verhoorlanddros het egter bevind dat die P&W Kwytskeldingswet net van toepassing is binne Parkeraad grondgebiede en het Borwa ter dood veroordeel. Die uitspraak se korrektheid word betwis. Zimbabwe National Parks is blykbaar besig om ‘n appél namens Borwa te loods.
Oct 23, 2013 | Bulletin - October 2013
Rudolph Optics
The South African company Rudolph Optics has been introducing a number of products over the past three months to expand its already extensive product range. The new introductions include:
- Rudolph Varmint Series Riflescopes includes the V1 model 4-12x40mm and the V2 model 6-24x50mm
- Rudolph Pivot Bipods. The features include robust and sturdy light-weight aluminium construction, adjustable spring loaded legs with height notches, sling swivel attachment and rifle protecting rubber pad.
- Rudolph Ear Protectors. The specifications are: NRR 25dB, immediate impulse noise attenuation above over 85dB, 8x amplification, dual, stereo volume controls, fully adjustable for custom fit and it uses 4 1.5 V long life AAA batteries that provide 200+ hours of service.
Oct 23, 2013 | Bulletin - Oktober 2013
Rudolph Optics
Die Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappy Rudolph Optics het hul reeds omvattende produktereeks die afgelope drie maande met verskeie nuwe produkte uitgebrei. Die nuwe bekendstellings sluit in:
- Rudloph Varmint reeks V1 model 4-12x40mm en die V2 model 6-24x50mm geweer teleskope.
- Rudolph spil-tweepote. Die kenmerke sluit in stewige en geharde liggewig aluminium konstruksie, veerbelaaide verstelbare bene met hoogtekerfies, bandskakel hegting en ‘n rubber skermstuk wat die geweer beskerm.
- Rudolph gehoorbeskermers. Die spesifikasies is: NRR 25dB, onmiddellike puls geraasbeperking bo 85dB, 8x klankverbetering, dubbelle stereo volume kontroles, ten volle verstelbare kopverstellings en dit gebruik 4x 1.5 volt langlewe AAA batterye wat tot 200+ uur diens verskaf.
