Africa Wild

Licensed to kill

December 1, 2014
Posted by: Allan Williams

MORE rhinos have been killed in legal hunts in the Eastern Cape this year than by poachers.

This shocking disclosure was made in reply to a question posed by DA MPL Ross Purdon in the Bhisho legislature last month.

While 15 rhinos have been poached in the province so far, 17 have been hunted legally.

The number of rhino-hunting permits issued in the Eastern Cape this year is also the highest since 2008.

Some conservationists said allowing a few rhinos to be hunted – hunters pay as much as R1.3-million to shoot one of South Africa’s most endangered animals – was a calculated move aimed at saving the species.

But Campaign Against Canned Hunting director Chris Mercer said: “The only difference between trophy hunting and poaching is a piece of paper. – Gareth Wilson

Very sad that they issue permits to hunt rhinos. Maybe we must get a permit to hunt whoever issues these permits

Flutterby wrote: MORE rhinos have been killed in legal hunts in the Eastern Cape this year than by poachers.

I would love to see a list of names of the people who purchased such a permit - completed with their country of origin .

Would virtually all be foreigners, Mello!

Photographic Safaris bring in ten fold and more than hunting ever will ...A jeep load of Mala Mala guests each paying $ 4000 per night stay x 8 people on the land Rover = $ 32000 x 16 land rovers on the property every day on the game drive = $ 512 000 per day x 365 days a year = $ 1.8 Billion and now do the same sums for Sabi Sabi , Londolozi, Ulusaba, Exeter, Kirkmans Camp etc Oh that's just Sabi Sands ..what about Timbavati, Shamwari, Phinda etc and the same leopard gets shot over and over and over again ..Hunting outfitters and land owners and canned lion breeders just pocket the money and put ZILCH back into conservation ...Londolozi for example has huge agriculture projects and education facilities near the reserve as just ONE example. People who say that hunting contributes to conservation are not applying any brain cells to the fact that all Hunting brings to Southern Africa is corruption and a bad reputation with the civilised world

Polentswa wrote:...A jeep load of Mala Mala guests each paying $ 4000 per night stay x 8 people on the land Rover = $ 32000 x 16 land rovers on the property every day on the game drive = $ 512 000 per day x 365 days a year = $ 1.8 Billion ....

Pete - If only 50% of these amounts could be achieved - or even 25%

The reality is that without hunting a lot of the areas currently set aside for wildlife could not exist - that fact alone contributes massively to conservation. Not saying there are not problems in the hunting industry - just that it is massively unfair to think the hunting industry as a whole condone's the unethical practises. Unless the human race suddenly all decided to become vegetarians I would far rather eat meat sourced from ethical hunting than a lot of the meat sourced from commercial farming today.

mikef wrote:I would far rather eat meat sourced from ethical hunting than a lot of the meat sourced from commercial farming today.

Good point mikef, but there are so many incidences of unethical hunting, it makes you wonder if there are any ethics left in the industry.

Flutterby wrote:

mikef wrote:I would far rather eat meat sourced from ethical hunting than a lot of the meat sourced from commercial farming today.

Good point mikef, but there are so many incidences of unethical hunting, it makes you wonder if there are any ethics left in the industry.

Spot on Flutts ..Come to the E Cape and see Hunting Caracal with Dogs , Shooting from a Bakkie , Shooting across the fence into a neighbours territory and then saying the Kudu was wounded on my farm first, Shooting at night , Lion hunting (The last free ranging lion was shot in 1848 in the E Cape ) ..I wonder where these lions come from ..Free State Caged lion Breeding Farms ..Noooo you cant be serious !!!

Plenty of excellent hunters, mostly conservation-minded!

The industry is worth millions, and has a strong code of ethics, IMO. Always some bad apples and weekend dronkies, but that will be in any industry!