From the Namibian

11.08.09
Canned hunting shoots back into the limelight
By: NDAPWA ALWEENDO


THE Namibian Professional Hunting Association (Napha) has appealed to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) to suspend the issuing of leopard and cheetah trophy-hunting permits for 2010.
Napha, which encourages hunting in an ethical and sustainable manner, has also requested a temporary suspension on hunting leopards with hounds.
Hunting leopards, but not cheetahs, with hounds is still legal in Namibia, but is frowned upon by most professional hunters, who feel it detracts from the “fairness” of the hunt.
“Increasing reports of alleged unscrupulous, unethical and illegal hunting practices, often involving unregistered and unqualified people posing as professional hunters, have led our executive committee to the opinion that urgent action is required to secure the future of the Namibian trophy-hunting industry, as well as the reputation of Namibia as a destination for fair chase and ethical trophy hunting,” Napha said in a statement.
Professional hunters to whom The Namibian spoke strongly feel that serious steps are needed to clean up the industry.
One hunter, who wished to remain anonymous, felt the call to stop issuing 2010 hunting permits was a reflection of the seriousness of the situation.
“We actually voted for closing down a lucrative segment of our trophy-hunting industry, in spite of the fact that some of our most respected and ethical members have hunts booked for next year for these predators,” he said.
Trophy hunting is one of the tourism industry’s biggest contributors to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The most recent data, from 2005, indicated that trophy hunting contributed N$316 million a year to the GDP.
As rumours of unqualified hunters and canned hunts – an illegal hunting practice in which the animals are trapped to make the kill easier – flood the industry, hunters are now asking what the Ministry of Environment and Tourism’s position is.
Those caught posing as hunting professionals face punishment in the form of confiscation of the illegally hunted animals, and a possible fine, but some Napha members believe that many lawbreakers are slipping through the nets of Namibian law enforcers.
“In my personal opinion, the efficiency of the Ministry is questionable. They just don’t have the manpower to follow up on everything,” said a Napha member.
“We are sick and tired of tolerating the abuses that have been going on. We are trying to ensure that a hunting industry exists for future generations,” another Napha member told The Namibian.
ndapwa@namibian.com.na