Interesting but is it true? This image was picked up from the MaXXed Out Guides Facebook page of which is actively killing what they state are problem geese on the local golf course. You can locate more about MaXXed Out Guides by clicking the link above and providing them with youre own rating and commentary. Meanwhile is this poster as true as the hunting fraternity states it is? First things first - hunting propaganda doesnt pay for a single thing as it is literally just that words and not action. Secondly does hunting really pay for land management? While we are an African organisation specializing in both animal and environmental conservation well focus our answer on Africa only. Trophy hunting is the selective hunting of wild game animals. Although parts of the slain animal may be kept as a hunting trophy or memorial (usually the skin, antlers and/or head), the carcass itself is sometimes used as food. Trophy hunting has firm supporters and opponents. Public debate about trophy hunting often centres on the question of the morality of sport hunting and the question of the extent to which the money paid by trophy hunters benefits the population of game animals and the local economy. Trophy hunting should not be confused with poaching, the practice of taking game illegally. A 2005 paper by Nigel Leader-Williams and colleagues in the Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy asserted that the legalization of white rhinoceros hunting in South Africa motivated private landowners to reintroduce the species onto their lands. As a result, white rhinos increased from fewer than one hundred individuals to more than 11,000. Today its stated that some 22,000 rhinos now inhabit South Africa however this number has drastically declined due to illegal poaching. Yet money raised from so called sustainable hunting is allegedly securing the lands. SANDF (South African National Defense Force) SAPS (South African Police) APUs (Anti Poaching Units) - even Rhino organisations such as Rhino Rescue Project that is working on projects to treat the rhino horn are still not stemming the flow of rhino poaching. A scientific study in the journal, Biological Conservation, states that trophy hunting is of major importance to conservation in Africa by creating economic incentives for conservation over vast areas, including areas which may be unsuitable for alternative wildlife-based land uses such as photographic econtourism. Financial incentives from trophy hunting effectively more than double the land area that is used for wildlife conservation, relative to what would be conserved relying on national parks alone according to Biological Conservation. Trophy hunting has been considered essential for providing economic incentives to conserve large carnivores according to research studies in Conservation Biology, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Wildlife Conservation by Sustainable Use, and Animal Conservation. We question this issue of so called land protection though, why? We question it as rhinos, elephants, cheetahs, lions and many more animals are still being hunted yet hunting is apparently generating vast sums of money to protect our land. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, trophy hunting provides an economic incentive for ranchers to continue to breed those species, and that hunting reduces the threat of the species extinction. According to Richard Conniff, Namibia is home to 1,750 of the roughly 5,000 black rhinos surviving in the wild because it allows trophy hunting. Its mountain zebra population has also increased to 27,000 from 1,000 in 1982. Elephants, which are gunned down elsewhere for their ivory, have gone to 20,000 from 15,000 in 1995. Lions, which were on the brink of extinction from Senegal to Kenya, are increasing in Namibia. Oddly this is true! The National Wildlife Federation supports hunting because under professional regulation, wildlife populations are a renewable natural resource that can safely sustain taking. Okay so weve read the hunting side of the argument, now lets look at some facts and break this argument down. 1. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, trophy hunting provides an economic incentive for ranchers to continue to breed those species, and that hunting reduces the threat of the species extinction. 1a. From 2000 South Africa was custodian to some 28,000 rhinos. However since 2000 poaching has increased. South Africa is no longer custodian to this alleged 28,000 rhino or even 22,000 rhino. From 1993 the white rhino population almost nearing extinction stood at some 6,376 while black rhino were standing at some 897. From 2005 the white rhino population stood at some 13,555 while the black rhino stood at 1,384. 2007 stats saw the white rhino standing at approximately 16,273 while black rhino was numbered to be 1,512. Then came the near tipping point. 2009 the white rhino stood at some 19,409 while the black rhino continued to increase in numbers to some 1,678. 2010 is when we began losing the war on so called land protection aka rhino poaching, 2010 saw a decline of white rhino placing the population at some 18,780 while the black rhino continued to increase furthermore at some 1,916. 2b. The average gestation rate of black and white rhino is around 15-16 months. 2010 figures placed the white rhino at some 18,780 NOT 22,000 as media and government continue to state. This figure of 22,000 has never been recorded on any census however may derive from the 2009 count that placed the figure near to 20,000 and not 22,000. 3b. If we take this 22,000 figure of the white rhino as being factual and the gestation rate of the rhino being some 15-16 months coupled with the entire poaching stats from 2000 which stands at some 3,968 (Thats almost 4,000) rhino lost since 2000. Yet hunting revenue is protecting the land and animals that inhabit it? One doesnt need to be a rocket scientist to see that hunting licenses are and fees paid are doing little to protect our land the largest country that hunters visit on the planet year round. 2. How much revenue is made from hunting? 1a. Trophy hunting is permitted in 23 sub-Saharan African countries (Roulet, 2004a). Using the most recent estimates for the countries with significant hunting industries, where estimates are available, we estimate that trophy hunting generates gross revenues of at least US$201 million per year in sub-Saharan Africa: from a minimum of 18,500 clients. These revenues compare favourably with the US$33–39 million dollars generated from 45,000 to 60,000 foreign hunters in Eurasia (Hofer, 2002). Over 1,394,000 km2 is used for hunting in sub-Saharan Africa, exceeding the area encompassed by national parks by 22% in the countries where hunting is permitted. In this article, we use the term ‘national parks’ to describe protected areas where consumptive utilization is not permitted. A 2006 review suggests that trophy hunting is most significant in Botswana (0.13% of GDP), Tanzania (0.11%), and Namibia (0.08%). By contrast, in Hungary (which has the joint largest tourist trophy hunting industry in Europe), hunting contributes only 0.0005% of GDP (Hofer, 2002). In Zimbabwe and Botswana, trophy hunting generates most income from elephants (27% and 56% respectively, Booth, 2002; Botswana Wildlife Management Association, 2001), whereas in South Africa where fewer elephants are hunted, most hunting income is generated from kudu (13.2%), gemsbok (Oryx gazella) (8.7%) and lion (8.2%) (Patterson and Khosa, 2005). Trophy hunting generates considerably more income per client than ecotourism (Baker, 1997; Lewis and Alpert, 1997) though not necessarily higher gross revenues. In Zimbabwe and Tanzania, for example, revenues generated by hunting clients are respectively 30 and 14 times greater than those generated per photographic client (Chardonnet, 1995). Consequently, hunting revenues can potentially be generated with lower environmental impacts from littering, fossil fuel use and habitat conversion for infrastructure development (Gossling, 2000; Mayaka et al., 2004). Read more here - africanwildlifeconservationfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Economic-and-conservation-significance.pdf Do hunting fees and licenses really secure the land in South Africa? 1. white Rhino populations are decreasing and have been since 2010. 2. Elephant populations are decreasing by the year. 3. Lion populations are continuing to decrease. But wait. We can answer this question quite simply here by going way back up the article to the black rhino populations that have from 2000-2014 continue to increase by the year. Why though? Are hunting licenses protecting the land that black rhinos inhabit? No, so what is? The answer lies here - Black rhino - scientifically identified as Diceros bicornis by Professor Carl von Linnaeus in 1758 listed as critically endangered was on the verge of extinction. The species is now protected - NOT BY HUNTING LICENSES or hunting. Cites Appendix I Black Rhino have been listed on CITES Appendix I since 1977. All international commercial trade in Black Rhinos and their products have been prohibited. To help reduce illegal trade, and complement CITES international trade bans, domestic anti-trade measures and legislation were implemented in the 1990s by a number of consumer states. Effective field protection of rhino populations has been critical. Many remaining rhino are now concentrated in fenced sanctuaries, conservancies, rhino conservation areas and intensive protection zones where law enforcement effort can be concentrated at effective levels. Monitoring has also provided information to guide biological management decison-making aimed at managing rhino populations for rapid population growth. This has resulted in surplus animals being translocated to set up new populations both within and outside the species former range. Following a decline in breeding performance in some areas, increased effort has recently been given to improving biological management with a view to increasing metapopulation growth rates. Increasing efforts are also being made to integrate local communities into conservation efforts (most notably in the Kunene region of Namibia). Strategically, Black Rhinos are now managed by a range of different stakeholders (private sector and state) in a number of countries increasing their long term security. In contrast to Southern White Rhino, most Black Rhino on privately owned land are managed on a custodianship basis for the state. Since CITES CoP13 limited sport hunting quotas have been approved of up to five surplus males annually (to further genetic and demographic conservation management goals) for the two range states with biggest populations (South Africa and Namibia). In addition to local and, national initiatives, there are a number of regional African rhino conservation initiatives: the South African Development Community (SADC) Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, the SADC Rhino Management Group, and the Southern African Rhino and Elephant Security Group/Interpol Environmental Crime Working Group. IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group is the continental coordinating body for rhino conservation in Africa. While SOME hunting fees are protecting the land that black rhinos are inhabiting it really is nothing compared to the funds that non-hunters and tourism is generating least forgetting that sheer fact they are protected under Cites I appendix. Yet white rhinos are still losing ground, would this suggest that hunting is in someway to blame for the white rhino reduction, after all only five black rhino per country they inhabit are hunted a year and no more. Hunting revenue and licenses may generate some protection for our African fauna and flora - however with the current trend in wildlife loss which is clearly evident by the day it clear to say hunting fees and licenses is generating little in our country. Read more here - ifaw.org/sites/default/files/Ecolarge-2013-200m-question.pdf Conclusion in brief; Trophy hunting does not benefit the land nor secure species as its being portrayed. One only has to view our weekly African endangered species articles on this site to see that trophy hunting is doing little to preserve any animal at all. Surely if hunting fees and licenses was protecting both flora and fauna then why are there some 100 near extinct animals and plants likely to go extinct in the next ten years? Read below and thank you for reading. Plougshare tortoise Population size: 440 - 770 individuals Range: 25-60km2 in Baly Bay region, northwestern Madagascar Primary threats: Illegal collection for international pet trade Action required: Enforcement of legal protection and protected area management Rio Pescado stubfoot toad Population size: Unknown Range: Azuay, Cañar and Guyas provinces, south-western Ecuador Threats: Chytridiomycosis and habitat destruction due to logging and agricultural expansion Action required: Protection of last remaining habitat Pygmy three-toed sloth Population size: < 500 individuals Range: Approximately 1.3km2 – 1.5km2 on Isla Escudo de Veraguas, Panama Threats: Habitat loss due to illegal logging of mangrove forests for firewood and construction and hunting of the sloths Action required: Enforcement of protection of the Isla Escudo de Veraguas nature sanctuary and raising awareness Advertisement Tarzans chameleon Population size: Unknown Range: < 10km2 in Anosibe AnAla region, eastern Madagascar Primary threats: Habitat destruction for agriculture Action required: Support for nascent community conservation initiatives and protection of habitat Seychelles sheath-tailed bat Population size: < 100 mature individuals Range: Two small caves on Silhouette and Mahé, Seychelles Threats: Habitat degradation and predation by invasive species Action required: Removal of invasive vegetation and control of introduced predators, coupled with legal protection of habitat and roosting sites Aggressive control of invasive vegetation and predators, drawing from international experience in the eradication of these threats, could assist this little bats recovery. Jamaican iguana, Jamaican rock iguana Population size: Unknown Range: < 10km2 core area in Hellshire Hills, Jamaica Primary threats: Predation by introduced species and habitat destruction Action required: Translocation to predator-free islands and control of deforestation Cayman Islands ghost orchid Population size: Unknown Range: 6 acres in Ironwood Forest, George Town, Grand Cayman Threats: Habitat destruction due to infrastructure development Action required: Development of legislation that will facilitate the protection of the Ironwood Forests Wild yam Population size: 200 individuals Range: Oshoek area, Mpumalanga, South Africa Primary threats: Collection for medicinal use Action required: Develop strategy for sustainable use and establish ex-situ populations Spoon-billed sandpiper Population size: < 100 breeding pairs Range: Breeds in Russia, migrates along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway to wintering grounds in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Primary threats: Trapping on wintering grounds and land reclamation. Actions required: Maintenance of critical intertidal staging posts and reducing trapping on wintering grounds. • Read the latest from the Guardian on conservation efforts to save the spoon-billed sandpiper Liben lark Population size: 90 - 256 individuals Range: < 36km2 in the Liben Plains, southern Ethiopia Threats: Habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural expansion, over- grazing and fire suppression Action required: Restoration of grasslands, including establishing sustainable land management practices, clearing scrub and reinstating fire regime Singapore freshwater crab Population size: Unknown Range: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and streamlet near Bukit Batok, Singapore Primary threats: Habitat degradation – reduction in water quality and quantity Actions required: Protection of remaining habitat and establishment of ex-situ populations Edwardss pheasant Population size: Unknown Range: Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue, Viet Nam Threats: Hunting and habitat loss Action required: Effective law enforcement, habitat restoration and development of a captive breeding programme Attenboroughs pitcher plant Population size: Unknown Range: < 1km2 on either side of the summit of Mount Victoria, Palawan, Philippines Primary threats: Poaching Actions required: Creation of a protected area and enforcement of current legal protection Luristan newt Population size: < 1,000 mature individuals Range: < 10km2 area of occupancy in Zagros Mountains, Lorestan, Iran Primary threats: Illegal collection for pet trade Action required: Enforcement of protection Vaquita Population size: < 200 individuals and declining Range: core area of approximately 2,500km2 in Northern Gulf of California, Mexico Primary threats: Incidental capture in gillnets Actions required: Ban on use of gillnets throughout the species range Greater bamboo lemur 100-160 individuals Range: Southeastern and southcentral rainforests of Madagascar Primary threats: Habitat destruction due to slash-and-burn agriculture, mining and illegal logging Action required: Habitat protection and reforestation in the Ivato and Karlanaga regions Saola Population size: Unknown Range: Annamite mountains, on the Vietnam - PDR Laos border Threats: Hunting and habitat destruction Action required: Increase enforcement efforts and habitat protection Red River giant softshell turtle Population size: 4 individuals Range: Hoan Kiem Lake and Dong Mo Lake, Viet Nam, and Suzhou Zoo, China Primary threats: Hunting for consumption and habitat destruction and degradation as a result of wetland destruction and pollution Actions required: Education and awareness programmes, and captive breeding Javan rhino Population size: < 100 individuals Range: Ujung Kulon National Park, Java, Indonesia Threats: Hunting for traditional medicine and small population size Action required: Enforcement of protection laws and possible establishment of a captive breeding programme • Read the Guardian feature on how the Javan rhino is clinging on in its last stronghold Cebu frill-wing Population size: Unknown Range: < 1km2 in a rivulet beside the Kawasan River, Cebu, Philippines Primary threats: Habitat degradation and destruction Actions required: Designation of area as Critical Habitat – restricting human access to the area Red-finned Blue-eye Population size: 2,000 - 4,000 individuals Range: Edgbaston Station, central western Queensland, Australia Threats: Predation by introduced species Action required: Control of the invasive species Gambusia holbrooki, and reintroduction of S.vermeilipinnis Estuarine pipefish Population size: Unknown Range: Kariega Estuary to East Kleinemonde Estuary, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa Threats: Construction of dams altering river flows and flood events into estuaries Action required: Establishment of a freshwater reserve, pollution control and implementation of water use allocations Suicide Palm, Dimaka Population size: 90 individuals Range: Analalava district, north-western Madagascar Threats: Habitat loss due to fires, logging and agricultural developments Action required: Establishment of a protected area and development of a management plan Bullocks false toad Population size: Unknown Range: < 500km2, Nahuelbuta, Arauco Province, Chile Primary threats: Habitat destruction as a result of construction of a hydro-electricity scheme Actions required: Halting development of the hydro-electricity scheme and protecting habitat Baishan fir Population size: 5 mature individuals Range: Baishanzu Mountain, Zhejiang, China Primary threats: Agricultural expansion and fire Actions required: Ex-situ conservation and re-introduction, and establishment of a protected area Araripe manakin Population size: 779 individuals Range: 28km2 distribution, Chapado do Araripe, South Ceará, Brazil Primary threats: Habitat destruction due to expansion of agriculture and recreational facilities and water diversion Actions required: Formal protection of remaining habitat and protection of springs and streams Amani flatwing Population size: < 500 individuals Range:
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:22:15 +0000
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