“That’s fresh, just a few hours old,” says Kris Everatt, pointing at a clear print of a lion’s paw in the hot dust. “It’s the ghost pride.”

South Africa is the most popular hunting destination on the continent. The wealth of species on offer, the wide range of hunting experiences, overall affordability and fantastic infrastructure all contribute to a world-class African hunting destination.

he growing appetite for 'conservation holidays' has shone a light on the dark – and poorly regulated – industry of lion farming, where felines are destined not to be 'released into the wild' - but to be shot by trophy hunters and their bones exported to Asia for use in traditional medicine.

Trophy hunting in Africa is no different to the harvesting of surplus wild animals by farmers in countries like Sweden to keep populations at sustainable levels. And it is largely because of hunting that South Africa and Namibia have been responsible for the world’s biggest-ever rewilding of former agricultural land. 

The government would ensure that “reinstatement of hunting is done in an orderly and ethical manner” and in accordance with the law and regulations, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism said in emailed statement.

The debate surrounding Botswana’s recent decision to lift the hunting ban is highly polarised, and both sides have marshalled various facts and figures to argue their case. These figures, especially the numbers of living and poached elephants, are hotly debated and contested, with some even questioning the motives behind the research.

I find it rather sad that Don Pinnock continues to lambast the character and “type” the persons involved in trophy hunting. He refers to them as wealthy, elite, callous and cruel.

Every day, local hunting outfitters and organizations receive a number of hostile e-mails and phone calls decrying their contribution to the deterioration of endangered animal species, begging them to rather focus on animal conservation, or bombarding them with threats.

Today’s poaching crisis that faces species such as elephants, lions and rhinos has spurred renewed debate in the country over the effetiveness of wildlife farming (also known as captive breeding or ranching) as a strategy through which to reduce pressures on wild populations while continuing to satisfy consumer demand with legal, sustainably farmed alternatives.

The Zambia National Community Resources Board Association (ZNCRBA) has called for the immediate suspension of trophy hunting in all hunting blocks until the government releases all funds owed to communities through the individual Community Resource Boards (CRBs).

Recently, the UK Government stated it would consider banning the import of trophies from hunted animals in Africa. This decision, a brief internet search reveals, has been celebrated by animal rights groups.

Curiously, I see no substantiation of these claims; not a single appeal to scientific evidence.

The hunting of wild animals is an emotive issue, drawing fire from anti-hunting organisations, environmentalists as well as many ordinary citizens.

Drones are taking up the skies all over the world. They come in different sizes and shapes. Ultimately, the use and applications of drones are the responsibility of their human users, as well as any damage caused by the drones. 

In listing 32 wild animal species as farm animals under the Animal Improvement Act in 2019, the Department of Agriculture went against the recommendations of the government’s own scientific authority.

Saai, an organisation that protects the interests of family farmers, which also includes game farmers, recently submitted commentary on the UK government’s consultation on whether to ban the import and export of hunting trophies to and from the UK. The call for evidence and consultation to gather views and expert evidence on trophy hunting was announced by Zac Goldsmith, International Environment Minister. The commentary period ends on 25 January 2020.

Overexploitation and inappropriately managed hunting activity are cited as some of the main concerns, because these are drivers of species extinction and biodiversity loss according to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

 “The legal and sustainable use of wildlife, as well as the legal trade in hunting trophies has contributed greatly to the recovery of dwindling species populations – and even saved animals like the bontebok and the roan and sable antelopes from extinction,” says Francois Rossouw, CEO of Saai.

The wildlife ranching sector not only contributes to the conservation of wildlife, but also makes a considerable contribution to the economy through tourism and the job opportunities that it creates. 

 “We are aware that South Africa is being used in this debate as a prime example to lobby against trophy hunting. The facts and research used against our wildlife ranching industry are poor and we believe that the wildlife farmers and their representatives should be given the opportunity to state their side of the argument before a decision is made,” Rossouw adds.

Taking note of Defra’s statement – that there will be future policy options to be discussed in terms of trophy hunting – Saai requested a meeting with Defra to make presentations on the wildlife ranching sector in South Africa along with network partners from across the industry.

AFRIKAANS

Saai, ’n organisasie wat die belange van familieboere beskerm, en wat dus wildboere insluit, het onlangs kommentaar ingedien op die VK-regering se konsultasie of die in- en uitvoer van jagtrofeë na en van die VK verbied moet word. Die oproep tot bewyse en konsultasie om menings en getuienis deur kenners in te win, is aangekondig deur Zac Goldsmith, minister vir internasionale omgewingsake. Die geleentheid vir kommentaar loop op 25 Januarie 2020 ten einde.

Oorbenutting en die onvanpaste bestuur van jagaktiwiteite word as die grootste redes tot kommer voorgehou, want volgens die VK se departement vir omgewingsake, voedsel en landelike sake (Defra) is hierdie die belangrikste aspekte wat tot die uitwissing van spesies en verlies aan biodiversiteit lei. 

“Die wettige en volhoubare aanwending van die natuur, asook wettige handel in jagtrofeë het grootliks tot die herstel van kwynende spesiepopulasies bygedra. Dit het selfs diere soos die bontebok, die bastergemsbok en die swartwitpens van uitwissing gered,” sê Francois Rossouw, uitvoerende hoof van Saai.

 Die wildboerderybedryf dra nie net tot die beskerming van die natuur by nie, maar lewer ook ’n beduidende bydrae tot die ekonomie in die vorm van toerisme en die skep van werkgeleenthede.   

 “Ons is daarvan bewus dat Suid-Afrika in dié debat as ’n treffende voorbeeld voorgehou word om teenkanting vir trofeejag te werf. Die feite en navorsing wat teen ons wildboerderybedryf gebruik word, is swak en ons glo dat wildboere en hul verteenwoordigers die geleentheid gegun moet word om hul kant van die argument te lug voordat ’n besluit geneem word,” voeg Rossouw by. 

Met inagneming van Defra se verklaring – dat beleidskeuses ten opsigte van trofeejag in die toekoms bespreek moet word – het Saai ’n vergadering met Defra versoek om ’n voorlegging te lewer oor die wildboerderybedryf in Suid-Afrika in samewerking met netwerkvennote van regoor die bedryf. 

The EMS Foundation’s recent call on government departments to ban the slaughtering and consumption of game, as well as its export in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, is opportunistic and irresponsible in a time during which the game and hunting industry can play an enormous role in alleviating hunger in vulnerable communities. 

Tourism has become an important economic sector for most African countries in the last two decades. There has been increased investments in product development and enhancement, aggressive marketing, coupled with appropriate business-friendly socio-political reforms.

Die COVID-19-regulasies het die reeds brose Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie verder verswak.

Wildlife conservation hasn’t escaped the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.