Posted on 06/21/2002 6:10:09 AM PDT by Clive
WILDLIFE producers have since the beginning of the fast- track land reform programme lost up to 90% of their safari- hunting game and there has been a huge reduction in capture and translocation of wildlife, it has been learnt.
Conservative estimates show that the country has lost about 50% of its wildlife and 65% of its tourism as lawlessness prevails on farms and conservancies.
Addressing participants at the Wildlife Producers Association AGM last week, chairman Wally Herbst said the country had so far failed to capture animals for export.
"There has been no export for some years, although accusations of illegal exports from settlers and national parks abound," said Herbst.
"This is all as a result of the so-called fast-track resettlement."
Since the beginning of farm invasions in 2000, the country has experienced a rapid decline in hunting business by commercial wildlife operators.
Herbst said there was no let-up in the slaughter of wildlife throughout the country as thousands of snares were still being recovered, some with dead animals still in them.
"Vehicles continually drive onto commercial farms with letters from the DA, Rural District Councils, and provincial wardens and the occupants shoot animals at will, first for Independence celebrations, then to feed the militia and then just to commercialise and capitalise on the lack of the rule of law in the country," he said.
"We report vehicle poaching to the police complete with government registration numbers and they say, 'it's political, there is nothing we can do about it'."
Between 1991 and 2001, 39 661 wild animals were caught and sold and the country earned $280 million dollars.
Herbst described the problems on the farms as a "war zone" adding the ultimate losers were the wild animals and ordinary citizens.
He said if the rule of law was not restored and poaching stopped, the country would have to pour money into a natural history museum to show its children what wonderful wildlife it used to have.
"I also hear that the poaching in the national parks is getting out of control with pressure back on the elephant," he said.
"We hear in the media of up to 30 rhino lost since land invasions started. But no one is saying how many. Why?
"How are we as custodians supposed to support our Cites stance when we daily watch the poaching tally mount?" he asked.
"How many pieces of paper with poaching stats must be produced before our ministry acts? Stats are but history."
He questioned why government and in particular the Department of National Parks and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism had not stopped or condemned such practices in writing so that all law enforcement agencies could react positively.
"The current Parks initiative to validate losses is commendable but too late to save the hundreds of thousands of dead animals," he said.
He mentioned Barberton Ranch where 127 animals have been killed and 1 980 snares collected over a 12-month period.
Of the 33 ranches surveyed, 1 900 animals were reported killed and 13 400 snares retrieved over 17 months, Herbst said.
Check out this concern for animals.
U.S. probes Cuban dolphin deals McKenna, who fights on behalf of no other animal, admits that when it comes to dolphins, ''I am ruthless.'' In trying to stop the Simpsons, she appealed for an international tourism boycott of Anguilla, and she raised money to send O'Barry there in December 2000 to speak publicly on the issue.
Might I suggest international tourism boycott of Cuba, where millions of people are held captive.
As for the trade embargo, O'Barry says: ''I don't agree with the law, but we are using it.'' Clarifying, he adds that ``the embargo should be lifted for humanitarian reasons. However -- and this is very important -- the part of the embargo that prohibits Americans from purchasing dolphins from Cuba should forever remain.''
Interesting distinction.
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