Africa Wild

And this was posted by Dereck Joubert (filmmaker & conservationist):

I'm in the bush, having been with a good leopard sighting today, but could not overlook the opportunity to say this: In three hours as the sun goes down today, we will have heard the last of the hunter's gunshots over the plains of Botswana. Today, safari hunting ends!! The end of an era of conservation by the gun, and the beginning of a new era for Africa, a more gentle caring one. My congratulations to the government of Botswana, with deep gratitude from me, from all concerned citizens, and from the informed global community of people that are concerned about wildlife.

And this was posted by Dereck Joubert (filmmaker & conservationist):

........Today, safari hunting ends!! The end of an era of conservation by the gun, and the beginning of a new era for Africa, a more gentle caring one........

I don't think its quite so rosy. There are still major problems and ironically enough once again South Africans involved.

http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid ... 2FFriday13

Humans have been hunting animals, mostly legally, for tens of thousands of years, or more, and we are allowed to, I think, in the greater scheme of things?

Duke wrote:

And how would the million or so annual visitors to the Kruger Park react if they knew that the rhinos and other animals they have seen could theoretically move a few kilometres and end up in the sights of a hunter. After all the APNR and Kruger are all elements of the same uninterrupted ecosystem. Same rhinos, same ellies, same everything…

Cannot talk for the million but this is one reasonI stopped donating to SANP

I firmly believe trophy hunting provides massive financial input for SA, in fact this has been cautiously recognised by .gov, and abundantly in thhe rest of South and East africa .govs!

It is indisputable that lodges and game farms preserve microhabitats whilst pursuing their commercial purposes...massive tracts of land down here, but increasingly all over the country too, from Free State to Cape etc!

Also job benefits, obviously, adding to the much-needed succour in rural areas?

Yes, we must always ask who is doing the research and who is sponsoring the research....pro or anti hunting group

Some interesting reading here


New Report: Economics of Trophy Hunting in Africa Are Overrated and Overstated


June 2013. A new report that analyses literature on the economics of trophy hunting reveals that African countries and rural communities derive very little benefit from trophy hunting revenue. The study, authored by Economists at Large-commissioned by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and Born Free USA/Born Free Foundation-comes amid consideration to grant the African lion protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).

"The suggestion that trophy hunting plays a significant role in African economic development is misguided," said economist Rod Campbell, lead author of the study. "Revenues constitute only a fraction of a percent of GDP and almost none of that ever reaches rural communities."

Only 3 percent of revenue actually reaches the rural communities where hunting occurs
As a portion of any national economy, trophy hunting revenue never accounts for more than 0.27 percent of the GDP. Additionally, trophy hunting revenues account for only 1.8 percent of overall tourism in nine investigated countries that allow trophy hunting, and even pro-hunting sources find that only 3 percent of the money actually reaches the rural communities where hunting occurs. While trophy hunting supporters routinely claim that hunting generates $200 million annually in remote areas of Africa, the industry is actually economically insignificant and makes a minimal contribution to national income. Click here to read the report.

Non-consumptive nature tourism
"Local African communities are key stakeholders for conservation, and they need real incentives for conservation," said Jeff Flocken, North American regional director, International Fund for Animal Welfare. "Non-consumptive nature tourism-like wildlife viewing and photo safaris-is a much greater contributor than trophy hunting to both conservation and the economy in Africa. If trophy hunting and other threats continue depleting Africa's wildlife, then Africa's wildlife tourism will disappear. That is the real economic threat to the countries of Africa."

Lions suffering from trophy hunting
Many species suffer at the hands of trophy hunters including the African lion. The number of African lions has declined by more than 50 percent in the past three decades, with just 32,000 believed remaining today. The steepest declines in lion population numbers occur in African countries with the highest hunting intensity, illustrating the unsustainability of the practice.

"Trophy hunting is driving the African lion closer to extinction," said Teresa Telecky, director, wildlife department, Humane Society International. "More than 560 wild lions are killed every year in Africa by international trophy hunters. An overwhelming 62 percent of trophies from these kills are imported into the United States. We must do all we can to put an end to this threat to the king of beasts."

Listing the African lion as endangered under the ESA would generally prohibit the import of and commercial trade in lion parts, and thus would likely considerably reduce the number of lions taken by Americans each year.

"The U.S. government has a serious responsibility to act promptly and try to prevent American hunters from killing wild lions, especially when the latest evidence shows that hunting is not economically beneficial. Listing the African lion under the Endangered Species Act will help lions at almost no cost to African communities. Government inaction could doom an already imperilled species to extinction through much of its range," said Adam Roberts, executive vice president, Born Free USA.

Fulll article here

what is this picture of two smiling mens with a poor Leopard

That is very subjective, IMO from a foreign source, Duke!

The jobs/financial benefits are pretty obvious down here in the Lowveld? You have a lodge/farm, and you maintain it, you employ lodge staff, trackers, hunters...they get paid locally, and depend on it!?



It is unknown to the general public that the professional hunting industry has played a major role in the conservation success story of South Africa through sustainable utilisation which directly creates a value for wildlife. This historical philosophy which is still relevant today, was implemented by Dr Ian Player in the 1960’s during “Operation Rhino”. Through the private ownership and sustainable utilisation of rhino, resulting in a massive increase in its value, the population of rhino increased from two small populations in KZN to almost 20 000 rhino in South Africa today. PHASA, as organisation, has also contributed substantial funding to various rhino conservation and protection projects and will continue to do so.

Recently various charges have been laid against Hunting Outfitters and Professional Hunters in South Africa who are continuing to exploit loop holes in our legislation to pseudo hunt rhino which are destined for the illegal trade. Hans Vermaak, president of PHASA said: “Pseudo trophy hunting of rhino is a massive threat to the reputation of all legitimate trophy hunters, clients, Outfitters and Professional Hunters alike.” As president of PHASA, the nationally and internationally recognised mouthpiece for the professional hunting industry in South Africa, Mr Vermaak has extended a plea to all outfitters and professional hunters to refrain completely from any activities involving pseudo hunting for the illegal trade. He also urged all professional hunters and outfitters to report any suspected illegal activities.

The diverse wildlife industry in South Africa is made up by various stakeholders. PHASA, founded in 1978 is the largest organisation of its kind globally. PHASA members host thousands of international hunting tourists annually. The association values the important roles of their counterparts in the industry, WRSA representing wildlife ranching and CHASA and SAHGCA representing local South African hunting. Together, the wildlife industry contributes an estimated R7.7b annually to South Africa’s GDP.



http://www.phasa.co.za/what-is-in-the-n ... ators.html

2013-11-22 08:57

Johannesburg - South Africa made R90 million less in 2012 than the previous year from tourists who came to the country to hunt, the Professional Hunters' Association of SA (Phasa) said on Wednesday.

This was contained in the preliminary findings of the environmental affairs department's statistics for 2012, Phasa CEO Adri Kitshoff said in a statement.

The findings showed that tourists who visited for hunting purposes contributed R811m to the economy in 2012, compared to R901m in 2011, Kitshoff said.

Rhino hunting showed the biggest decrease, with 85 fewer harvests in 2012 than in 2011.

This meant only R36m was contributed by rhino hunting in 2012, compared to R84m in 2011, Kitshoff said.

Lion hunting showed the biggest increase, with 151 more harvests in 2012 raising R122m, as opposed to the R77m made in 2011.

There was a public outcry this week when US television personality and game hunter Melissa Bachman was pictured on Twitter alongside a lion she killed while in South Africa, with the comment: "An incredible day hunting in South Africa! Stalked inside 60 yards on this beautiful male lion... what a hunt!"

Activists petitioned the South African government to "deny future entry" to Bachman, accusing her of being "an absolute contradiction to the culture of conservation". They obtained more than 150,000 signatures.

The environmental affairs department could not be reached to confirm the findings.

- Sapa

Fingers Off the Trigger: Zambia Cancels All Trophy Hunting Licences

By Ian Michler on January 7, 2013 in Hunting, News



Towards the end of last week Zambian wildlife authorities suspended the tender process for hunting concessions and cancelled all hunting licences for the foreseeable future.

According to sources and local news reports, Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo has based her decision on corruption and malpractices between the hunting companies and various government departments. She also fired the Director-General of the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), Edwin Matokwani, as well as a number of other officials, and has instigated an in-depth criminal investigation of ZAWA and other wildlife bodies.

ZAWA, sable, banned hunting licences in Zambia

Sable antelope in Zambia © Ian Michler

According to the Minister, she has received widespread support for her actions.

There seems to be confusion about the time period involved, with some sources stating that the suspension is only for a year. Others have suggested that the cancellation may be extended to five years in order to allow a thorough review of the hunting industry and the role it plays in Zambia. Sources have also indicated that the authorities are in serious discussions with outside wildlife bodies, with a view to them playing a more significant role in managing Zambia’s parks and reserves.

These actions come just 14 months after the previous board of ZAWA was dissolved by the newly elected president, Michael Sata, and indicate that Zambia has still not rid itself of the cartels that are rumoured to have dominated hunting in that country for decades.

I would certainly encourage the Zambian authorities to use this opportunity to take a closer look at the Botswana model that has recently stopped trophy hunting altogether. In the long term, photographic options offer far superior benefits at every level.

These developments are no doubt linked to confirmation earlier in the week that Zambian authorities have also established that foreign-registered light aircraft are involved in smuggling wildlife out of the country. Using small landing strips, these flights also violate Zambian airspace as they are being undertaken without authorised flight plans.

Readers of Africa Geographic magazine will recall my article, Sable Shenanigans (February 2012) on the 200-plus sable, owned by a South African wildlife breeding and hunting consortium, that still remain corralled outside Lusaka. In that piece, I mentioned the possibility of illegal flights taking young sable calves out of the country as the syndicate was desperate to start making money on their investment in the animals. The sable deal has direct links to the trophy hunting industry – the primary motivation for South African breeders to be involved is to supply sables with longer horns so that hunters will pay higher prices for their kills.

Given these developments, and the recent changes to the hunting laws in Botswana, it is perhaps appropriate to address the attitude recently expressed by the Vice-Chairman of the Confederation of Hunters Associations of South Africa. In early December, reports in South African newspapers quoted him on the ‘misconceptions’ the public has of the image of the hunting industry. He went on to state that these are pedalled by ‘fringe elements, animal rightist elements’ and that ‘animal rightists play on emotion’.

Firstly, how does the Vice-Chairman reconcile his comments on misconceptions with the reality of what is taking place in Zambia right now – and the role of South African operators in Zambia’s wildlife affairs for that matter? The articles also quoted him as suggesting that ‘a lot could be done to educate the urban public to the reality of hunting’. It is my experience Mr Vice-Chairman that much of the public opinion is based on facts such as those coming from Zambia. If education needs to take place, may I suggest it also include hunters and their clients?

Which leads into my second point. The Vice-Chairman and the hunting fraternity at large need to start accepting that there is a growing opposition to the practices of trophy hunting, and this is based on a variety of legitimate concerns that cover science and ecology as well as issues involving philosophies, principles and ethics. These are not going to go away – in fact, the questions and opposition will continue to grow.

And finally, if this type of puerile and reactionary drivel put forward by the Vice-Chairman is going to remain the standard response from so many within the hunting fraternity to legitimate questions on what they do and how they do it, then we will see the end of trophy hunting far sooner than those that pull the triggers would wish.

UPDATE: Since this post was written, is has been reported by The Times of Zambia that the Tourism Minister has banned hunting in 19 Game Management Areas for one year, but not in some other Game management Areas, nor on privately-owned game ranches. Leopard, lion and elephant hunting is closed everywhere.


http://blog.africageographic.com/africa ... -licences/