The South African tourism fraternity are clearly divided in the debate on whether to promote trophy hunting or not. The pro-hunting camp points out the fiscal benefits of trophy hunting and all its subsidiary elements. The benefits of conservation are also mooted.
On the other side of the fence, the anti-hunting lobby is appalled by canned hunting and the negative aura surrounding it. Why should we accept the killing of endangered species such as rhino in the name of sport, they ask?
Is it not possible to find a solution where both camps benefit from trophy hunting and both parties support each other? “Never in a million years,” is the knee-jerk reaction but perhaps there is an avenue worth debating. I would like to highlight the green hunting option.
The first move would be for all members of Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa (PHASA) to place a voluntary ban on the killing of big cats, rhino and elephant. A prospective hunting client will then approach the professional hunter and book his hunt. The professional hunter sets up the hunt and is assisted by a suitably experienced and qualified person in the veterinary field. The hunter stalks his quarry and shoots it – with a tranquilliser dart. How could this possibly be a win-win, you might well ask?
The hunter experiences the thrill of the hunt. He gets the video. He gets the images posing next to his ‘kill’. He gets to attach a satellite transponder collar or microchip to his trophy. He gets to invite his friends around to his house to watch the video and see the fibre-glass trophy on the wall. Most important of all, he gets to show, on his laptop, the exact current location of his trophy back in Africa. Perhaps in time he can return to Africa with his grandchildren and use the transponder to track down his adopted quarry and see how it’s doing.
How will this benefit tourism and the environment in general? As part of the hunt, which is paid for and sponsored by foreign exchange, animals can be, where necessary, sterilised. This will greatly assist the elephant population problem in Kruger, for example. Rhinos could be dehorned and/or relocated. Animals can have minor ailments treated and given a shot of whatever is needed.
Tracking information can assist environmentalists and anti-poaching agencies. Employment will be created not lost. Canned hunts will be a thing of the past. South Africa will be seen by the rest of the world as positively contributing towards conservation efforts.
Perhaps there is a win-win.
