Hunting bodies query accusations
2010-07-07 19:19



Bloemfontein - Hunting organisations have questioned a report by Animal Rights Africa (ARA) which refers to South Africa's hunting industry as "bloody and ruthless".

Professional Hunters' Association of SA (Phasa) president Eduard Katzke on Wednesday rejected as false ARA's portrayal of hunting as destructive.

"To use the terms 'poaching' and 'hunt' in the same context indicates how uninformed ARA is on the role the hunting industry plays in conservation and wildlife management," he said.

Wildlife Ranching SA (WRSA) said ARA's notion that the local hunting industry was based on the exploitation of animals was debatable.

"Hunting is an essential crop method for the sustainable use and survival of game," said WRSA president Jacques Malan.

ARA recently released a report containing an "in-depth" look at hunting in South Africa.

It concluded there was an urgent need for a comprehensive, transparent and public examination of the industry.

"Should this study be undertaken, the South African public will be appalled at what happens in South Africa's bloody and ruthless hunting industry and will call for a speedy end to a practice which has no place in the modern world," the report reads.

Ethics-based approach

ARA spokesperson Michele Pickover said hunting and the ethics of allowing it in South Africa were also in need of widespread public scrutiny, debate and action.

ARA also called for a new ethics-based approach to wildlife conservation. The way this was currently handled in South Africa had become part of the problem.

The rights group also claimed some private farms were overstocked and populated with species not found in that region, to generate greater hunting income.

Phasa said the hunting industry's contribution to job creation in rural areas, conservation, research and training of previously disadvantaged communities should not be under-estimated.

"Phasa generated more than R5m for training of disadvantaged communities at the SA Wildlife College at Hoedspruit and donated a further R400 000 to curb rhino poaching," said Katzke.

Hunting associations also contributed directly to other conservation initiatives and research.

Katzke welcomed ARA's decision to give its report to Parliament's environmental affairs committee.

"We would love to get involved in discussions on the economic, research and biodiversity role the hunting industry plays."

WRSA's Malan said money generated by selling hunts and game animals was used to make sure those animals survived. He urged ARA to discuss issues in the hunting industry with them, to ensure its arguments were not based on foregone conclusions.

Malan said most local hunters behaved ethically in the field, while most game farmers could not afford unlawful hunting near their businesses.


- SAPA

More lip from the ignorant. These types all want attention and money. Most of these "men" want attention from women: "look at me, I'm saving the poor animals from the monster hunters," money, or both. You can't reason with ignorance. They are ignorant...period. Until the worldwide hunting community quits hiding under the rug and speaks out LOUDLY like Uncle Ted, these slugs won't go away..ever. Look at the HSUS. They get "stars" to get on TV with starving kitty cats and puppy dogs. YOU can help by sending us $19 per month. Yeah, your helping alright! Your helping that con artist Wayne Percell stuff his pockets with millions. P. T. Barnum said it best: "There's a sucker born every minute!"
LDK

The press release of the Proffessional Hunters Assoc. of SA can be viewed here:PHASA Press Release