‘Taxi hunters’ destroy rare oribi

Illegal dog hunters are threatening an endangered antelope found largely in KwaZulu-Natal.

On Thursday the Endangered Wildlife Trust, an NGO focusing on the conservation of threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa, called on the public to report illegal dog hunting.

Samson Phakathi, a field officer in KwaZulu-Natal for the trust, said the hunting posed a major threat to the oribi, of which the trust estimates only 2 500 remained in the province.

The rare antelope is found in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape as well.

Phakathi said while hunting with dogs was sometimes driven by hunters’ need for food, sport hunting was the primary motive and the biggest threat to the oribi.

Organised “taxi hunts”, where people gathered to gamble on a dog’s hunting success, were growing in popularity.

The winning dog could earn thousands of rand in a hunt, while successful dogs sold for between R10 000 and R24 000.

“There have been as many as 60 dogs that participate in the hunt. The dogs are specially trained. They seek out livestock, not only the oribi.”

It was difficult to catch the hunters and few had been brought to justice, said Phakathi.

The oribi was particularly vulnerable to the dog hunters as it was found in grasslands, making it an easy target.

Phakathi said the plight of the oribi highlighted the threat to grasslands.

“They like to breed in tall grasslands and raise their young in shorter grassland. They are a good indicator of natural grassland vegetation.”

He said healthy grassland vegetation was important for grazing for livestock, and provided thatch for homes.

The oribi were being threatened by habitat loss as well.

“Natural grasslands are being threatened by agriculture and timber plantations.”

According to Phakathi, the trust had recently translated the laws on illegal hunting into Zulu to help people understand that they were breaking the law.

“It is too early to tell whether this has been effective,” he said.

l Anyone with information on illegal hunts should call Phakathi at 082 805 4806 or 033 330 6982.

Information is treated as confidential and callers may remain anonymous. - Daily News