Jan 10, 2014 | News
“Some people have a problem with hunting, but I have to be open – people have to understand that hunting is part of our conservation programme” – the words of Namibia’s former Minister of Tourism and current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the opening of the recent World Adventure Travel Summit in Namibia. By any standard, Namibia is forging ahead as a leading destination in the world of conservation beset with many of the challenges under-developed African countries are also faced with. Yet, words from the top of the government that hunting forms a part of their program could not be more plainly put.
Do we all have to like it or engage in the practice of hunting? No. And this is where people are missing something. All we ask is that due consideration is given to review the facts. Avoid jumping to any end of the emotional spectrum. Whether the rhino has passed its prime or not, the concept of sustainable utilization, or harvesting – the term used by some – is what we’re talking about. This ‘bloodlust’, ‘love of the great outdoors’, ‘answering the call of some primitive instincts’, whatever one wants to label the activity of hunting, given its correct management, it has never negatively affected the wildlife population. It has only benefited. And there are countless examples, right here in South Africa being probably the best.
How the animal is removed from its population is the issue for many, and that, quite honestly, can be understandable and disturbing for some.
What the proceeds of sustainable utilization can offer is in little dispute, and congratulations to Namibia for having such an overt stance on the subject. The ‘million-dollar’ black rhino auctioned at Dallas Safari Club is about as good an example as you will get anywhere.
South Africa, on the other hand, having lead the world’s white rhino recovery largely as a result of the value attached to the species, is slow as a nation to take a public stance on the subject, despite it being legal! A few years ago, Pilanesberg sold of one of their black rhinos for a little under R2million, and yet even today, our Ministry devotes not a cent to the promotion of hunting.
South Africa is the largest hunting destination in Africa, more than the rest of Africa combined, and still has the potential to double its numbers. The growth of land under conservation, directly as a result of private game management ( which includes hunting) – and largely, unfortunately, by white farmers – is not only outstripping State ownership but appears to be the only hope for the future growth and security of biodiversity management.
Rhino breeders, some of whom have more rhino than most of the countries in Africa where they once roamed free, have long held the view that the only solution is to lift the trade in rhino product. Why? Simply put, when an animal can produce a commodity that is valuable, be it a cow, mink or rhino, there is little or no chance of it going extinct. People are driven by money and will do what they can to not only keep the rhino alive, but to get them reproducing. That is the basic law of supply and demand. Sure, some will argue that these animals are not in the wild. That may be so, but they could be, as part of the program, and for certain, if their numbers keep increasing, they will not go extinct – which, after all is the number one objective.
Richard Lendrum – Publisher African Hunting Gazette
Sep 30, 2013 | News
AHI would like to draw the industry’s attention to the CIC Young Opinion Research Award.
The CIC (International Council for Game & Wildlife Conservation) is a global non-profit inter-governmental organization aiming to conserve wildlife through its sustainable use. The Young Opinion working group of the CIC focuses on creating a global network of young scientists under the age of 35, who believe in the values which the CIC is advocating.
The CIC Young Opinion Research Award is aimed at supporting researchers whose projects contribute to the sustainable use of wildlife for the benefit of natural heritage conservation. Thereby, the goal of the Young Opinion Research Award is to promote scientific research in the accordance with the spirit of CIC’s convictions. Participants are required to send a summary of their research project, explaining the aim, methods and conclusions of the project.
The jury, a committee of CIC experts, will determine the two winners, who will be rewarded with an invitation to participate at the 61st General Assembly in Milan (23 – 26 April 2014) and to present their projects and get in contact with key representatives and experts in the field of sustainable hunting. The prize covers the registration fee, accommodation and travel expenses. The deadline for application is 15 November 2013. The results will be announced by mid-February 2014.
Requirements: Students of Masters and Doctoral programmes under 35 years old are eligible to apply. The summary should meet the following criteria:
- Cover the research topics dealing with sustainable hunting based on one or more of three approaches – economic, socio-cultural, ecological (topic examples: ethics, politics, or history of hunting; wildlife management measures from habitat improvements to harvest strategies)
- Maximum length is 3600 characters/two pages
- Working language – English
- Send your submissions to office@cic-wildlife.org with the subject CIC Young Opinion Research Award 2014.
Sep 30, 2013 | Bulletin - September 2013
AHI will die bedryf se aandag graag vestig op die CIC Jong Opinie Navorsings-toekenning.
Die CIC (Internasionale Raad vir Wild en Natuurlewe Bewaring) is ‘n globale, interstaatlike organisasie sonder winsbejag met natuurbewaring by wyse van volhoubare benutting as doelstelling. Die Jong Opinie werksgroep van die CIC fokus op die daarstelling van ‘n globale netwerk van jong wetenskaplikes onder die ouderdom van 35, wat CIC se waardes ondersteun.
Jong Opinie Navorsings-toekenningbeoog om navorsers te ondersteun wie se projekte bydrae tot volgehoue benutting van die natuurlewe tot voordeel van die bewaring van die natuur erfenis. Vervolgens is die doel van die Jong Opinie Navorsings-toekenning om wetenskaplike navorsing ooreenkomstig die gees van die CIC se oortuigings te bevorder. Daar word van deelnemers verwag om ‘n opsomming van hul navorsingsprojek te verskaf, waarin die oogmerk, metodiek en gevolgtrekkings van die projek uiteengesit word.
Die paneel bestaande uit ‘n komitee van CIC kundiges sal twee wenners bepaal. Die wenners sal beloon word met ‘n uitnodiging na die 61ste Algemene Vergadering in Milan (23-26 April 2014) om hul projekte voor te lê en kontak te maak met sleutelspelers en kundiges op die gebied van volhoubare jag. Die prys dek die registrasiefooi, verblyf en reiskoste. Die spertyd vir aansoeke is 15 November 2013. Die uitslag sal middel Februarie 2014 aangekondig word.
Vereistes: Meesters- en Dokotorale kursus studente jonger as 35 kwalifiseer om aansoek te doen. Die opsomming moet aan die volgende standaarde voldoen:
- Een van drie benaderings rakende volhoubare jag dek, synde: economies, sosio-kultureel, of ekologies (onderwerp voorbeelde: etiek, politiek, of jaggeskiedenis, natuurlewe bestuur vergelykings van habitat verbetering to oes strategieë.
- Maksimum lengte is 3600 karakters/twee bladsye
- Voertaal – Engels
- Dien aansoeke in met die onderwerp aangedui as CIC Young Opinion Research Award 2014 by office@cic-wildlife.org.
Aug 6, 2013 | Safari Planning
Everyone probably has their own way of planning a safari. On the one hand, there are those that book a safari the same way they would a restaurant. They have heard a rumour that a particular restaurant serves good food and so they book without knowing anything else other than its contact details. They have some good meals and some bad ones.
Then there are some people who almost invariably eat at McDonalds. There is at least one in every town. The meals are inexpensive, the service is quick and you know what you are going to get. There are still others who know, well before hand, exactly what they would like to eat and, in fact, can probably tell you which wine they propose drinking with which course and why. They book well in advance and would rather eat one good meal a quarter than take potluck once a week. These are people who are often passionate about food, discuss it with their friends, read about it and, probably, cook themselves. Although they do not necessarily live to eat, eating for them is more than just about satisfying hunger pangs.
As James Mellon wrote nearly 30 years ago in African Hunter, the bible on hunting on this continent, ‘Oh what traps and snares there are in the wilderness of possible safari arrangements!’ Today, his comments are even more relevant as hunting has become a very expensive pastime. And the more sought after the trophy, the more expensive it becomes. At the end of the day, only an extremely wealthy person, with masses of time on his hands, can afford to book a safari without careful research. In fact, there are only three things you need to know about booking a safari – research, research and research.
My research begins with a decision to hunt one or more particular animals. Like many of the stories that I write, this begins with a vague idea which, every now and then, pops out of my sub-conscience. When this starts to happen with greater frequency, I start to pay attention and actively begin thinking about hunting those particular animals. I normally start my research with the animals themselves. I glean what I can from the record books, namely, Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game and SCI’s Record Book of Trophy Animals.
From there I turn to The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion by Skinner or some such other reference book and, of course, the internet and Wikipedia are also good if somewhat generalized starting points. Then, if I am still interested, I will dig further. By now, I have a reasonable idea of the animal, its habitat and, in which countries it can be found, and then I really get to work.
I confess, it is easy for me to become passionate about a given animal for a whole host of reasons. However, I try not to forget about the other animals that might occupy the same habitat as the one(s) I am particularly looking for or that I may find in the same vicinity. For example, you may be mad keen about hunting lesser kudu in Tanzania’s Masailand but there are also good fringe-eared oryx, gerenuk, Coke’s hartebeest and Patterson’s eland on offer. It would be silly to neglect these animals and, sometime later, have to book a second safari to the same area to complete a collection of oryx or eland, for example.
