http://allafrica.com/stories/201512180502.html


Zimbabwe: Safari Operations Decline By 30 Percent

By Kudzai Kuwaza


Safari operations this year suffered a 30% reduction in revenue owing to, among other things, the continued ban on ivory hunting and the killing of the famous lion, Cecil, businessdigest has learnt.

Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe (Soaz) chairman Emmanuel Fundira told businessdigest that the continued ban of the importation of sport hunted elephant trophies from Zimbabwe imposed in April last year by the United States government, as well as the ban by airlines on transporting ivory had an adverse impact on its operations throughout the year.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced a suspension on imports of sport-hunted African elephant trophies taken in Tanzania and Zimbabwe during the calendar 2014 year.

"In Zimbabwe, available data, though limited, indicates a significant decline in the elephant population. Anecdotal evidence, such as the widely publicised poisoning last year of 300 elephants in Hwange National Park, suggests that Zimbabwe's elephants are also under siege," the organisation said.

"Given the current situation on the ground in both Tanzania and Zimbabwe, the Service is unable to make positive findings required under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) and the Endangered Species Act to allow import of elephant trophies from these countries."



"The ban on hunted elephant trophies and the ban by airlines on transporting ivory has been a real challenge for the sector," Fundira said. " We can safely say that there was a 30% drop in our numbers which is very significant."

He said the photography sector of the industry has been hampered by the killing of Cecil which generated negative headlines worldwide.

The cyanide poisoning of elephants, Fundira said, worsened the sector's challenges.

Rangers in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park discovered the carcasses of 26 elephants at two locations in October which had been killed by cyanide poisoning.

Bhejani Trust and the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority made the announcement, a week after 14 other elephants died under similar circumstances.

"The photography side was badly affected by the death of Cecil. The poisoning of elephants by cyanide did not give a human face to the industry," Fundira told businessdigest.

He pointed out that efforts of looking for alternative in Eastern Europe were ongoing with encouraging prospects. Fundira however said it will take time for their efforts to bear fruit.

30% sounds high to me judging by number of discounted hunts offered on this forum as they didn't noticeably jump this year. I got a feeling the drop in the price of oil had more of an impact as our Texas based hunting community have less disposable income these days.

Sad to see. I would guess that oil prices play a role in those numbers too and with oil hovering around $35/barrel I would not be looking for 2016 to be a whole lot better.

I don't think the full impact of oil commodities and other hard industries was felt in 2015. It will be felt in 2016 and beyond.

Oil and commodities are far more dominant in hunting business than big tech or finance is. I also think oil guys are eternal optimist - a lot went and hunted in 2015 when they should not have.

Also the strong dollar sets back other non us hunters.

All in all I would not want to be in the hunting business in zim which sucks cause there are some great guys operating there.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Sad to see. I would guess that oil prices play a role in those numbers too and with oil hovering around $35/barrel I would not be looking for 2016 to be a whole lot better.

Regarding the oil and gas industry, I work as a consultant here in Texas and employment opportunities are slim and none (and slim left town yesterday!).

My brother works as a dispatcher for a trucking company that hauls crude in West Texas. All employees just took a 15% across the board pay cut.

Do any of you guys remember after the oil boom/bust of the 1980's? The bumper stickers that said "Lord give us one more oil boom. We promise not to piss it away next time!". I clearly remember when older Lear jets could be had for pennies on the dollar. One add in Trade A Plane stated that the owner was selling a his Lear Jet and his Rolls Royce. The Lear was $250K and the Rolls was thrown in for free or visa versa your choice.

Amazing how history repeats itself. I was reading that there is an absolute glut of lifted, chromed out 3/4 ton 4WD used/repossessed trucks on the market. A large percentage have "Ain't skeerd" stickers on the rear window.

Dangerous game is where the money's at, plains game only pays the bills. So with the drop off of ele revenues, that's bound to hurt the industry. Would be interesting to see what the 2015 off take was for dangerous game.

I doubt too many hunts were cancelled for 2015 due to Cecil so don't see that has a contributor for this year. Maybe for 2016, but we will have to wait and see. Lion demand certainly exceeds supply at present.

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
Do any of you guys remember after the oil boom/bust of the 1980's? The bumper stickers that said "Lord give us one more oil boom. We promise not to piss it away next time!". I clearly remember when older Lear jets could be had for pennies on the dollar. One add in Trade A Plane stated that the owner was selling a his Lear Jet and his Rolls Royce. The Lear was $250K and the Rolls was thrown in for free or visa versa your choice.

Amazing how history repeats itself. I was reading that there is an absolute glut of lifted, chromed out 3/4 ton 4WD used/repossessed trucks on the market. A large percentage have "Ain't skeerd" stickers on the rear window.

Ain't my pickup truck! I drive a 2001 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD with 214,000 miles and a "DSC" sticker on the rear window.

I have to believe the price increase/quota cuts limited the buffalo hunting revenue as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
I don't think the full impact of oil commodities and other hard industries was felt in 2015. It will be felt in 2016 and beyond.

Oil and commodities are far more dominant in hunting business than big tech or finance is. I also think oil guys are eternal optimist - a lot went and hunted in 2015 when they should not have.

Also the strong dollar sets back other non us hunters.

All in all I would not want to be in the hunting business in zim which sucks cause there are some great guys operating there.

Mike

Dollar hunts has become 50 % more expensive for norwegians. Not good! HUnting Namibia that works Euros aswell has become more attractive.

quote:

Originally posted by Opus1:
Dangerous game is where the money's at, plains game only pays the bills. So with the drop off of ele revenues, that's bound to hurt the industry. Would be interesting to see what the 2015 off take was for dangerous game.

I doubt too many hunts were cancelled for 2015 due to Cecil so don't see that has a contributor for this year. Maybe for 2016, but we will have to wait and see. Lion demand certainly exceeds supply at present.

And what with Zambia coming back on board...

Look at what the prices on the BVC have done in the last four years. Might as well go to Zambia.

Between the oil and gas crash and the Canadian dollar in the toilet now, you can be there is going to be a big decline in Canadian hunters going overseas. The gas and oil boys were a significant percentage of the Canadian contingent.

Many thousand are out of work. I see hundreds of expensive rifles for sale now and other toys by oil and gas employees or associated businesses who are now struggling to make ends meet. So many of them live to the max while they are working and tank quickly during the down cycles.

The African crew will mostly be down to the usual Dr's/lawyers/indian chiefs now.

skyline, the value of the AU dollar has fallen also. There will be far less Ausie hunters traveling now BUT some outfits will do deals with Aus $ if they are after the business.