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Hunting

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:04 pm
by Flutterby
Author: Chris MERCER
Published: July 16, 2011

Link: http://technorati.com/lifestyle/green/a ... se-jargon/

This May 2002 canned rhino hunt is a true story. The way that conservation officials/hunters describe it, they were doing the poor rhino a favour. Read on:-

A rhino cow was being non-consumptively utilised as a tourist attraction in Kuruman Game Park. Sentimental, urbanised people might erroneously or perhaps maliciously, describe the Game Park as a small piece of fenced land across the road from the industrial estate, but real conservationists would know that it was an 'extended wildlife system' as defined in the new regulations.

The 'active management' of the rhino cow began at 9a.m. in the morning when she was approached by licensed hunters on foot in accordance with good hunting practices. She was first shot humanely at about 9a.m.with a .458 Winchester in a manner which inflicted no more than minimal suffering and did not distress any other animals in the vicinity. Thereafter she enjoyed further humane treatment from time to time during the course of the day. At 4.30 in the afternoon she was seen to be bleeding from four quarters, flanks and hind quarters but could not have been suffering more than minimal discomfort because the ethical hunter was using an approved weapon of the correct calibre. She must also have been pleased to know that the ethical hunter had a permit issued by Kimberley Nature Conservation authorities to introduce her to the doctrine of sustainable use. For all this, and mindless of her duty to be sustainably utilised for the benefit of conservation, she had unlawfully retreated into a thicket. The ethical hunter was by now shooting from his safari vehicle in accordance with good hunting practices because she was wounded, albeit only minimally.

Not because he was afraid that his vehicle would get a puncture in the thicket or because he was tired from all that pulling on a heavy trigger, the ethical hunter decided at 4.30pm to pull out his cell phone and call up a helicopter from the industrial estate, which lay in plain sight across the highway from the extended wildlife system. The helicopter arrived within minutes and descended upon the thicket in order to flush the rhino cow out. When she emerged she received more humane treatment from the ethical hunter's .458 Winchester, which caused her to retreat back into the thicket. This meant that the process had to be repeated again and again. But this was the rhino's own fault because she exhibited a marked aversion to the humane treatment she was getting.

The helicopter pilot, who was not a true conservationist, alleged that she received humane treatment in this manner not less than ten times over a period of forty minutes before she agreed to be sustainably used and fell onto her knees. At this stage the hunting party were observed to break open beer cans and to take photographs in order to celebrate the success of their successful ethical hunt according to the prevailing norms of conservation society. All that humane effort must have been thirsty work. Out of a tender concern to avoid hurting the trophy parts of her body, no attempt was made to terminate her minimal suffering, and her active management was allowed to be prolonged until she eventually expired some time later in the evening. Too much should not be made of this because every true conservationist knows that animals cannot reason and therefore cannot suffer pain as we do and there is really no ethical difference in killing a rhino than in killing bacteria.

Unfortunately there are spoil sports in all walks of life and the circumstance of this hunt were leaked to some radical extremist bunny huggers who should get a life, who deceitfully reported the matter to the police in order to harm conservation in South Africa. The response of the hunting party and of the conservation authorities was, quite properly, to point out that the hunt had been conducted ethically and in accordance with good hunting practices and the prevailing societal norms: viz. the hunter was licensed by Kimberley conservation authority; he was a qualified marksman; he was a member of a recognised hunting association which was supervising the hunt; he initially approached the animal on foot, and he used a rifle of the approved calibre to avoid causing more than minimal suffering and distress to other animals in the vicinity. The rhino cow was deemed to be wild because the enclosure in which she roamed fell within the broad definition of an extended wildlife system, wherein active management was required. So this hunt could not lawfully be called either cruel or canned.

The Kimberley prosecutor, himself an avid hunter, and therefore a true conservationist, accepted these defences and declined to prosecute, saying it was impossible to prove that she had suffered more than minimally.

Re: Trophy hunting - how hunters use jargon to conceal cruel

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:42 pm
by iNdlovu
I aM disgusted and saddened.

Re: Trophy hunting - how hunters use jargon to conceal cruel

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:54 pm
by Penga Ndlovu
This makes me sick as I already saw the pictures and now reading this.

Sad, sad world we live in. :evil: :evil: O-/ O-/

Re: Trophy hunting - how hunters use jargon to conceal cruel

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:06 pm
by Dewi
Chris Mercer has written this so well, using the hunters and and so called "conservationists" own jargon against them to show them up for what they really are. Well done Chris. \O

Re: Trophy hunting - how hunters use jargon to conceal cruel

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:33 pm
by Flutterby
I agree Dewi..very well written! \O

Hunting brings much to SA economy

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 7:55 am
by Flutterby
30-10-2012 SAPA

Johannesburg - The hunting industry has contributed millions to the country's economy in past years, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa said on Monday.

In the 2010, hunting season, for which comprehensive information was available, total revenue of approximately R1.1bn was generated by the local and trophy hunting industries collectively.

"This amount only reflects the revenue generated through accommodation and species fees. The true revenue is therefore substantially higher, as this amount does not even include revenue generated through the associated industries as a result of the multiplier effect," she said.

Molewa was speaking at the launch of the first Hunting Indaba in Sun City.

The event, which would run until Tuesday, was aimed at bettering communication between government and hunters.

"Although government and industry will sometimes not agree on other matters, I am of the firm belief that the hunting industry and the game farming industry are important partners, who play a key role in terms of conservation, tourism, and economic development," said Molewa.

She said statistics had shown that controlled hunting had helped to conserve endangered species such as the white rhino.

"Statistics compiled in 2010 indicate that there are approximately 18 800 white rhino in South Africa and the number of white rhino has increased over tenfold since hunting and live-sales started," she reported.

She stressed that poaching still hampered efforts to protect the rhino. Over 280 rhino had been poached this year alone.

Molewa pledged that her department would have a good working relationship and would co-operate with the hunting sector.

"I am committed to strengthening and improving the relationship between my department and this sector," she said.

Re: Hunting brings much to SA economy

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 7:56 am
by Flutterby
Over 280 rhino had been poached this year alone.
Which figures is she looking at???? :-? :-? O/ O/

Re: Hunting brings much to SA economy

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 7:57 am
by Flutterby
So while Botswana puts an end to hunting, we're promoting it??? :-?

Re: Hunting brings much to SA economy

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 7:59 am
by Flutterby
State to explore hunting industry potential
BY NICK HEDLEY AND KHULEKANI MAGUBANE, OCTOBER 30 2012


South Africa’s trophy hunting industry is envisaged to grow to R10bn a year, a development that would allow it to contribute "a great deal" to job creation and the economy, Water and Environmental Affairs minister Edna Molewa said on Monday.

Ms Molewa was speaking at the department’s Hunting Indaba at Sun City, where industry experts and stakeholders said the industry employed 140,000 people and contributed R6b n to gross domestic product.

Hunting in South Africa was already bigger than the country’s dairy and sugar industries, said Confederation of Hunting Associations of South Africa chairman Stephen Palos.

Ms Molewa said there was room for more growth in the industry and "(we) do not believe we have realised that potential to the fullest".

Renewable energy and wildlife tourism are sectors being targeted by the government for transition to a green economy. "The government of South Africa, through the Department of Environmental Affairs, set aside R800m to establish a green fund and appointed the Development Bank of Southern Africa as implementing agent," Ms Molewa said.

Mr Palos said SA had untapped potential in the international hunting market, but because of the anti-hunting sentiment from lobby groups, this could be under threat.

"Government must continue to engage with industry and organisations. We must also aggressively market hunting and not hide it in tourism packages and we have to educate society about the benefits of hunting," he said.

North West University professor Melville Saayman said that while Australia had much less wildlife diversity than South Africa, its commercial utilisation of wildlife was a good example for South Africa to follow.

Ms Molewa said South Africa has played a positive role in conservation through hunting, and had been recognised by the International Conservation Union. But the chief operating officer at the Department of Environmental Affairs, Elizabeth McCourt, said the industry faced challenges, including complexities that emerged as a result of outdated regulation systems and the lack of an accepted national set of principles.

Awareness of the importance of conservation was stressed by United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa, who said black communities were lagging in awareness of environmental issues.

Limpopo economic development, environment and tourism MEC Pinky Kekana said hunting was about more than just conservation. "There is a disjuncture between the views of state, regulation, industry and communities, who do not see industry gains as amounting to their benefit." The hunting industry provided "more job opportunities … faster than any other rural-based activity", she said.

Re: Trophy hunting - how hunters use jargon to conceal cruel

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 12:30 pm
by The Spotted Genet
They are a disgrace, sad spineless little people who attempt to justify their brutality because frankly, to think any further is beyond their ability.
Lets hope they reap what they sow. 0= 0= 0=