Kruger animals 'could be prey'
14/03/2005 17:25 - (SA)


Cape Town - SA National Parks says there is a possibility that an animal spotted by a tourist in the Kruger National Park one week might be shot by a commercial trophy hunter the next.

SANParks was responding to questions about the movement of animals across the unfenced boundary between the Kruger and the adjoining 66 000 hectare Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in Limpopo, where commercial hunting is allowed.

SANParks communications manager Wanda Mkutshulwa said on Monday it had to be understood hunting was not outlawed in South Africa.

Referring to the agreements and open boundaries the Kruger National Park maintains with several private nature reserves, including Timbavati, she said: "We deem it necessary to provide our partners with the opportunity to make use of hunting."

Hunting had to be carried in a "scientific manner", including first looking at how many animals there were, as well as examining the impact such hunting might have on the conservation area.

Permit is needed

Working out how many animals could be hunted was "a joint decision between the private reserves attached to the Kruger National Park and authorities from SA National Parks", whereafter a permit was needed from the provincial authorities.

Asked if an animal seen by a tourist in the Kruger National Park one week, could end up being shot by a commercial trophy hunter in the Timbavati game park during the next, she said: "One thing that one must consider is that... animals are territorial. They prefer to remain in the area in which they were born.

"Of course, I'm not ruling out that animals will not move to other areas.

"If the veld condition was more or less the same, there wouldn't be much of a reason for the animals to move from one side to another.

"The animals hunted in the Timbavati will probably be those that have come from the animals they had."

'Creation of ecological unity'

Asked if what she was saying was that animals from the Kruger National Park were not being shot in the Timbavati area, Mkutshulwa said: "Well, we're not going to say we're ruling it out, but it is unlikely."

The Kruger National Park struck an agreement with Timbavati in 1996, after the fence between the two was removed.

The first principle of this agreement is "the extension and creation of ecological unity" between the two areas.

Nowhere in the document is commercial trophy hunting forbidden.

Edited by Iaine Harper

War of words over hunting Kruger game

Ellen Hollemans | Johannesburg, South Africa


14 March 2005 05:17

Bantu Holomisa, the president of the United Democratic Movement, has fired arrows laced with poisonous words at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve (TPNR). He has accused the reserve of killing the Kruger National Park's wildlife.

But the TPNR's management is convinced of the reserve's innocence and is fighting back, even threatening legal action.

The privately owned, 66 000-hectare TPNR borders the Kruger National Park. The separating fence was brought down in 1994, mainly for conservation reasons.

In the TPNR, and in neighbouring privately owned nature reserves, wildlife is hunted -- including commercial trophy hunting. Hunting in the Kruger National Park, and all the other national parks in South Africa, is strictly forbidden.

South Africa National Parks (Sanparks) is aware of commercial hunting in Timbavati and states that it is "highly unlikely" that the Kruger animals are affected by these hunting practices.

Holomisa last week sent letters to Collins Chabane, the Limpopo minister of development, environment and tourism, and to Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk.

In these letters, he demanded an investigation into the hunting practices undertaken in the TPNR. His main point of objection was that these hunts also target the protected game from the Kruger National Park, because there is no fence.

"Surely we cannot condone the destruction of a national asset for the commercial gain of a private institution, and the pleasure of a select group of rich hunters," Holomisa wrote.

"I just want to know under which conditions this fence was brought down. Timbavati and Sanparks should disclose whether it was agreed that there would be commercial hunting when it was brought down," Holomisa told the Mail & Guardian Online.

"And I want to know exactly what is happening with the money that is made with these hunts. I want to see prove that it went to conservation.

"I am not attacking hunting, but I find it very strange that commercial hunting is allowed in a reserve that is bordering the Kruger and does not have a fence. Kruger wildlife can wander [freely] into the reserve. What is the use of protecting these animals in [the] Kruger if they are shot in a neighbouring reserve?" Holomisa said.

The management of the TPNR was highly offended by Holomisa's letters and struck back with a press release.

"Mr Bantu Holomisa shows an ignorance of the common law and legislation governing sustainable utilisation of natural resources in South Africa," wrote Tom Hancock, chairperson of the Timbavati Association, in the statement.

"The Timbavati is above reproach and complies with all provincial and national legislation and regulations regarding hunting.

"We get permits for all the commercial hunts that are undertaken in Timbavati," Hancock told the M&G Online.

"For the hunting season of 2006, which starts on the first of April 2005, we have permission to shoot 22 buffalo. We have, in fact, already sold these permits," he said.

According to Hancock, all the hunts are approved by a board on which the TPNR, the Kruger National Park and the Limpopo provincial legislature is represented.

"It would appear that Mr Holomisa has not read the agreement between the [Sanparks] board and the Timbavati. The agreement in no way prohibits commercial hunting within the Timbavati.

"If he [Holomisa] had simply asked us before publishing his defamatory allegations, we would gladly have forwarded him copies of these documents. However, no attempt was made by him to contact the Timbavati."

Hancock also objected to the allegation made by Holomisa that the TPNR is shooting "national assets".

"Mr Holomisa appears not to understand the prevailing legislation relating to hunting, and the common-law principal of res nullius [meaning 'ownerless thing']. The animals that cross the border between Kruger and the Timbavati are ownerless," Hancock wrote in the press statement.

"It is like the fish in the sea; they belong to no one, but the state makes rules as to how many the fisherman can catch," he said.

"We comply with the rules that the state lines out for hunting, but we are not hunting any state property."

TPNR management said the money made from commercial hunting activities is used exclusively for conservation and management of the reserve.

"Commercial hunting contributes approximately a third of the reserve's operating costs. The balance comes from tourism and the members themselves," said Hancock.

The TPNR will consider if it is appropriate to take legal action against Holomisa.

"I will not apologise," was Holomisa's reply. "They can jump in the lake, but they will not receive my apology. It is my job to ask questions and when protected wildlife can be shot, I want to know why this is allowed."

When asked why Holomisa is only now objecting to the hunting, when the fence was brought down more than a decade ago, he responded: "It was only brought to my attention recently that there is commercial hunting in Timbavati.

"This is not a direct attack on Timbavati. We want to know what the rules are on hunting in private areas that border national parks. If we would have received the same information on any other private reserve, we would have asked the same questions."

Sanparks does not agree with Holomisa's criticism.

"It is highly unlikely that the Kruger animals will be affected by this hunting. Wild animals are territorial and will probably not wander into Timbavati. I am not saying that it is impossible, but it is very unlikely," Wanda Mkutshulwa, head of communications at Sanparks, told the M&G Online.

"And one must understand that commercial hunting in this country is not outlawed. It is considered as a form of sustainable development, just like ecotourism.

"It is not like the hunters take up their guns and go and shoot animals. After scientific assessment, it is determined how many animals can be shot and for these animals, permits are issued. The hunters do not shoot animals for which they do not have a permit," Mkutshulwa said.

Sanparks told the M&G Online that when the fence between the Kruger and the TPNR was brought down, it was known that commercial hunting was taking place in the TPNR. It was agreed that the hunting could continue after the fence was brought down.

The minister of environmental affairs and tourism has requested Sanparks to look into the matter and present a report on the matter as soon as possible.

So what does it cost to hunt elephant in Timbavati?

Andy

Or Buffalo, or what about trophy fees for KUDU or bushbuck ???

The Timbavati has been closed for commercial hunting for the past few years. The primary Kruger concession allowing hunting is the Klaserie Nature Reserve. I have hunted this area twice for buff and once for lion. Large buff population and you will see plenty of 44"+ buff every day. It was fairly reasonable when I hunted, however, buff fees are astronomical today and they are only tendering 4 to 8 each year. ($12K I believe)

Lion is also available but in the area of $35K. I do not believe any ele hunting has been tendered in the Klaserie for many years, but there are plenty. In regards to other species, I have seen bigger trophy animals in other areas of Africa.

For a couple of years one could hunt elephant, buffalo or plains game WITHIN the Makuleke Concession of Northern Kruger. If I remember correctly, Elephant was around $30K then (about 2001) and buffalo around $10K-12K I believe. Plains game was, amazingly, at the standard rates you would find anywhere.
I find it funny that this article raises such a stink about the animals being hunted within RSA when, if you go to the Crooks Corner area of Kruger, there is effectively NO fence separating it from a hunting area in Zimbabwe along the Limpopo. When I was there, some vertically planted railroad ties were along the river with a single thick cable about 3 feet off the ground strung between the ties. Surely they didn't think this "fence" was enough to stop game moving between the two countries. One of the PHs we were with actually had the Zim concession right across the river.

Best,

JohnTheGreek

Zero Drift,

You got some bad info. Timbavati is open and has been open to hunting. 1 lion, 1 leopard and several buffalo are put up for tender each year. I have a leopard I can sell you right now.

No plains game is hunted there but as mentioned "Green" hunts for elephant are done there.

As you mentioned about the other area the trophy quality is excellent but the prices are high.

Regards,

Mark

Mark - Thanks for the update on the Timbavati.

What's the $$$ for leopard?

Hi I wonder if this had been started by locals living next to the Kruger who is not allowed to hunt in the Kruger park and therefore seeing animals x over to the hunting area and then hunted.They then feel it is part of the Kruger why are they then denyed of hunting in the park. On e news in RSA this was mentioned.

quote:

Originally posted by Andy:
So what does it cost to hunt elephant in Timbavati?

Andy

Andy

According to a friend of mine who also manages a private reserve on the Klaserie border , trohy bulls , with a maximum ivory weight of 70 pounds were bought by an outfitter for $50 000 each . Non trophy bulls with a maximum ivory weight of 40 pounds were also made available for hunting .

Brad

Brad