Namibia: Elephant Bull's Life Saved


The Namibian (Windhoek)

20 November 2008
Posted to the web 20 November 2008

Absalom Shigwedha


A CONSERVATION project helping rural communities to co-exist with the desert-adapted elephant in western Kunene Region has compensated two conservancies in the region for deciding not to use a trophy-hunting permit issued to them.

This year, the Ministry of Environment issued three trophy-hunting permits for elephants in the Kunene Region, to be shared by the Sorris-Sorris and Otjimboyo conservancies bordering the Ugab River.

But Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) realised that the conservancies have only one resident breeding bull large enough to be regarded as a trophy.

The bull, locally known as 'Voortrekker', is regarded as the founding father of the Ugab elephant herds and has led the four residential herds there for around 10 years.

Younger nomadic bulls do visit the area, but none of them is of breeding age yet.

The oldest one, a bull called Longshanks, is still about eight to 10 years too young for the cows to allow him to breed.

Johannes Haasbroek, the Operations Director for EHRA, said the loss of 'Voortrekker' would have been a heavy blow for the resident elephant cows.

However, says Haasbroek, they were also fully aware that the two conservancies were in desperate need of income that a trophy hunt would provide.

After discussions with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, EHRA offered to financially compensate the two conservancies if they would waive their rights to this trophy.

Haasbroek said both conservancies showed the same concern upon realising the effect 'Voortrekker's' death would have on the future of the Ugab elephants.

"The conservancies decided to sign a memorandum of agreement with EHRA to waive their rights to the trophy, based on an offer from EHRA to financially compensate them for their loss of income and the meat they would have received," said Haasbroek.

Rachel Harris, the EHRA project co-ordinator, told The Namibian yesterday that each conservancy would receive N$70 000 in compensation.

The money was raised from a fundraising trek through the desert that EHRA launched last month.

Ten women from the UK, US, Ireland and Canada walked 130 km through the former Damaraland over five days and raised N$140 000.

Before the conservancies accepted the compensation, they had already signed a contract signed with a professional hunter, Hentie van Heerden, who had a client booked for the hunt.

EHRA said Van Heerden agreed that it would not be feasible or sustainable to shoot a bull in the Ugab and decided to send the permit back to the Ministry as unused.

The Ministry helped Van Heerden find an unused trophy-hunting permit in another area of the country, where there was reportedly a specific problem elephant bull for his client to shoot.

Great story!

It shows what happens when everyone is using their brains!

I applaud all parties involved!

Thanks for sharing it Kathi...

This guy certainly needs to be servicing the cows until the other bulls become mature enough to take his role...

Then let the HUNT begin...

Professionalism and game management at its finest...

Mike

Thanks for posting that.

Sounds like common sense broke out everywhere, not too common these days.

Wow!

Don't hear enough good news like this as frequently as we should.

Great story.

Fantastic

A good show by everyone.

I take my hat off especially to these fine ladies

quote:

Ten women from the UK, US, Ireland and Canada walked 130 km through the former Damaraland over five days and raised N$140 000.

Thanks for sharing.

Best-
Locksley,R

That’s fantastic. Well done to all involved.

Oh, I dunno, if I died, my wives and girlfriends would be in shock but I imagine they could get by with a younger bull or two by lowering their standards.......