quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by MANDLAZIM:
Andrew - sorry to hear this mate.

I feel for you and the other Zambians that have put big effort (financially and physically) into the wildlife industry.

Just hope the poachers don't see this as an opportunity!!!!

Cheers
Brent

Brent,

It is nothing compared to what you chaps have been through.

The tough bit was for the past three years I convinced a community that the model I worked was one that could be duplicated throughout Africa and one that would benefit wildlife. I changed a mindset.

Quicker than you can swipe a credit card this has been unstitched. I cannot afford to invest in exclusive photographic tourism as I do not have anything to offer and certainly nothing better than the rest of the crowd. Nor do I have the investment. Royal Kafue was built and maintained on hunting revenues, the whole concept was to produce a model that was not donor reliant. It was a functional business arrangement between a community and the private sector and one which exampled the importance of wildlife as a sustainable natural resource.

Whoever has motivated this action then they must be answerable to these communities and to the game. They must take over this responsibility.

I sympathize with the situation you have been left in as you were clearly making headway!

You have said that those concerned must take over responsibility but they won't and you'll still feel some responsibility for the areas and wildlife within because you are a hunter and ultimately a true conservationist hence why the other hunters share your disappointment/bitterness because we're all from the gene pool and understand what a lot of "others" don't. Sad to say the least.

I hope things turn around for you.What depressing crap.

OK, instead of us all having a pity party, lets do something. First, Andrew, you need to get with the chief of the community and have him contact the President of Zambia directly to explain the benefits of safari hunting to his community, and to put pressure on him to reinstate it. Then, if that fails, you need that chief to get an article printed in the newspapers, and it needs to ask who is going to take care of them after the investment they made in your operation and what they were getting out of it.

Those of us here in the USA, who might know someone in the diplomatic service who has a connection to the US Ambassador to Zambia? Who knows somebody who can insert themselves to try to mitigate this?

While I have no connections or funds to fight this, I'll be damned if I think we should all just give up and not try to do something. At least I can contribute some ideas such as these. We ALL need to do whatever we can, no matter how insignificant, to turn this around.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by MANDLAZIM:
Andrew - sorry to hear this mate.

I feel for you and the other Zambians that have put big effort (financially and physically) into the wildlife industry.

Just hope the poachers don't see this as an opportunity!!!!

Cheers
Brent

Brent,

It is nothing compared to what you chaps have been through.

The tough bit was for the past three years I convinced a community that the model I worked was one that could be duplicated throughout Africa and one that would benefit wildlife. I changed a mindset.

Quicker than you can swipe a credit card this has been unstitched. I cannot afford to invest in exclusive photographic tourism as I do not have anything to offer and certainly nothing better than the rest of the crowd. Nor do I have the investment. Royal Kafue was built and maintained on hunting revenues, the whole concept was to produce a model that was not donor reliant. It was a functional business arrangement between a community and the private sector and one which exampled the importance of wildlife as a sustainable natural resource.

Whoever has motivated this action then they must be answerable to these communities and to the game. They must take over this responsibility.

The success of the safari's you hosted at Royal Kafue last year is a testament to viability of your partnership with the community.

We hunted Lions mate.

Yes we did!! And proper it was.

I know you have the adaptable resilience to personally move forward to cover the needs of yourself and your family. I would hope a plan, even if temporary to buy time, could be constructed to keep the Kaindu Community interested in preserving the lands and wildlife of Royal Kafue as it is. I would also hope a way could be found to continue the patrols of the scouts, and the employment of Iran, a good lad that Joyce still speaks fondly of. I’ll be in touch.

I must say this even puts a damper on my Namibia Leopard hunt in four months. It's like the whole world thinks we are out to exterminate the big cats.

Some of you have always said, "Go get your lion before it closes." Well, right now every time I look down the long hallway to my TR I can see my lion looking at me. It doesn't make me happy, but rather it is depressing to think I might never get to hunt them again.

Andrew,

So sorry for your troubles and I hope for a beneficial and speedy resolution.

In the meantime, everyone attending SCI can make a point of visiting booth 4322 to politely express your concern. This is the Zambia PH Assoc. booth and oftentimes there will be Zambia government personnel present to take your comments.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
I must say this even puts a damper on my Namibia Leopard hunt in four months. It's like the whole world thinks we are out to exterminate the big cats.

Some of you have always said, "Go get your lion before it closes." Well, right now every time I look down the long hallway to my TR I can see my lion looking at me. It doesn't make me happy, but rather it is depressing to think I might never get to hunt them again.

But you did my friend.

It is not all doom and gloom and things can change quite dramatically in Africa. I like to think that this is a clever Zambian Government tactic whereas Tanzania and Zimbabwe will put their prices up and we then come in later and sweep the board.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:


But you did my friend.

It is not all doom and gloom and things can change quite dramatically in Africa. I like to think that this is a clever Zambian Government tactic whereas Tanzania and Zimbabwe will put their prices up and we then come in later and sweep the board.

I hope your positive outlook comes true.

Without a doubt you have made the impossible possible. Turning royal kafue back into a place full of wildlife. I'll gladly help you again this year if there is anything to do. And you start hunting again in 2014.

Andrew,

So sorry to hear this. I was afraid that this happen way back . . Prayers are with you and I'm sure things will be brighter in the near future for you and yours. You have done many great things there and you will be rewarded for that. Keep having a positive attitude!!

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:
OK, instead of us all having a pity party, lets do something. ...................

DLS has made THE real sensible suggestion.

May I ask what is PHASA going to do about this? First one country. Then the next. When South Africa?

The powers that be in Zambia has good contact with our main terrorist organization, Can PHASA influence the ANC to send some message about sanity prevailing to their Zambian counterparts?

It is but once again that the African proves that he has no concept of cause and effect. Third dimensional fore-thought does not exist.

Very sad news indeed! Sorry to hear about this Fairgame.

I think there might have been better ways of dealing with this but if clamping down on corruption was the true motive than at least that is enlightening. I hope they sort out this mess soon for everyone's sake - especially that of the legit Zambian Operators!

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew McLaren:

May I ask what is PHASA going to do about this? First one country. Then the next. When South Africa?

The powers that be in Zambia has good contact with our main terrorist organization, Can PHASA influence the ANC to send some message about sanity prevailing to their Zambian counterparts?

Andrew, PHASA has actually done quite a bit for us. For one; they met with the Limpopo Provincial Government on Sept 18th last year and at that time it was noted that the Provincial Government recognized the important role that hunting plays in tourism growth.

This might be the status quo for now but who knows of course who the next monkey is who will get a seat on the gravy train...

Fact is that to try and make sense of the African way of thinking and think we as "outsiders" can do anything about it is futile. Truthfully; there is NOTHING we can do about it.

Andrew, my thoughts are with you and the many other great operators there are in Zambia. I wish you guys all the best.

quote:

Originally posted by Thierry Labat:
Andrew, my thoughts are with you and the many other great operators there are in Zambia. I wish you guys all the best.

Thanks mate. We understand that there will be a statement issued on Monday and let us hope that it does not affect communal game ranches. The Kaindu community have offered to petition the Minister.

I've said many times that Zambia's Kafue region is my favorite place in all of Africa! The game is tremendous, the lions big and beautiful, and the people are the best.

Although I haven't talked to Andrew in the past couple of weeks, I have talked many times to Richard Bell-Cross and Gavin Hume - both good outfitters with good areas. I do truly feel bad for all of these guys, and the rest of Zambia's hunting industry as well.

However, Gavin said it best to me on the phone just yesterday. The "Game" is finished!!! They (poachers) will kill everything, and will do it in short order. Richard has said the same, and of course - I know that to be true as well. We all know that to be true!

Yes, I feel bad for the Zambians - but people can make a plan. These guys are smart/capable people, and will land on their feet somewhere (be it a tough road in many cases). But, the wildlife has no plan - NONE!!! They will be completely at the mercy of the poachers, and in short order - Zambia's vast game fields will be a thing of the past. Unless a plan is made QUICKLY???

All of this in the name of corruption, greed, stupidity, and oh ya I almost forgot - "wildlife conservation"

Something tells me our scientific researchers are probably raising their glasses to celebrate their efforts in having succeeded to ban cat hunting.

Oh, Woe! - Its going to be a free for all - much like the bank manager leaving the vault open and forgetting to lock the main entrance!

Somebody refresh my memory..hasnt Zambia survived a short term closure in the past? I am thinking like from 2000 to 2002?

If you look at some of the lions that were taken immediately following the closure they were outstanding...look at Pro Hunt Zambia's gallery for instance.

Sounds like it is time Zambia comes up with a strict lion policy as has happened in TZ and Niassa Moz before moving forward. Hopefulluy the Kafue operators can pull thu offering 10-14 day sable & plains gane hunts in the meantime.

i can't help but wonder what the govt. is going to do to make up for the financial losses. At least some of the monies were spent in the villages. and what do all the operators do about their camps? what a fubar

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
i can't help but wonder what the govt. is going to do to make up for the financial losses. At least some of the monies were spent in the villages. and what do all the operators do about their camps? what a fubar

She, the minister, has said that she is not concerned with loss of income.

Quote 'Safari hunting, she asserted, did not generate enough revenue to make it a worthwhile endeavor.

"Why should we lose our animals for $3 million a year? The benefits we get from tourist visits are much higher," she added.'

Besides, the Nordic States, China and a few others will bail them out, at a price of course.

Stuff me, light bulb goes on. Has anyone considered that this could be a manner to clear the decks so that the Zambian Government will allow mining or some other form of exploitation by some Oriental mob to take place.

(quote) Somebody refresh my memory..hasnt Zambia survived a short term closure in the past? I am thinking like from 2000 to 2002?

If you look at some of the lions that were taken immediately following the closure they were outstanding...look at Pro Hunt Zambia's gallery for instance. (quote)

Lion farming is not restricted to RSA it is also well established in Zambia to a point where the quota could be regulated by a 'put and take' system without creating any repercussion on the naturally wild lion. The Minister could therefore weigh this option as a viable solution in preventing the depletion of the Zambian lion population.
I wonder what the Zambian lion farmers do with their 'crop' anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by BEGNO:
OH Crap Andrew,

So sorry for this news, I was hoping to hunt with you again this year. Let's pray they reconsider and come to their senses.

Good luck and my prayers are with you.

the phrase "come to their senses" implies that they had sense to begin with and somehow lost it. we all know Africans have no sense except those of stupidity and greed...

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:


She, the minister, has said that she is not concerned with loss of income.

Quote 'Safari hunting, she asserted, did not generate enough revenue to make it a worthwhile endeavor.

"Why should we lose our animals for $3 million a year? The benefits we get from tourist visits are much higher," she added.'

I have been to Zambia about 6 times for a total of 6 months. I can tell you without any doubt that Zambia makes very little from actual "in country" tourism. Sure, lots of tourists come into Zambia to see Victoria Falls as a side trip while they are on holiday to one of the nearby countries, but very few actually travel into Zambia and spend money viewing wildlife(or doing anything else). The few tourists you will see deep inside Zambia are the "backpacker" type, and they spend very little money.

What make me sad is that the minister seems to believe that closing hunting will bring more non-hunting tourists. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hunting vs. wildlife tourism is not an either or situation, but it sounds like the animal right wackos have gotten to the minister.

Zambia does not have the money to protect their wildlife the way Zimbabwe or any of the surrounding countries do.

This has the potential to be catastrophic for the wildlife.

Hunters have been unsuccessful in getting there message across as conservationists,IMO.All I here from hunters is if you don;t eat it why shoot it.Why not try to get the message to all hunters and to non hunters.Why not pay for message time on TV? or do something more effective.Why not ask hunters for money to help? What is this crap? Put the message in newspapers.

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:


She, the minister, has said that she is not concerned with loss of income.

Quote 'Safari hunting, she asserted, did not generate enough revenue to make it a worthwhile endeavor.

"Why should we lose our animals for $3 million a year? The benefits we get from tourist visits are much higher," she added.'

I have been to Zambia about 6 times for a total of 6 months. I can tell you without any doubt that Zambia makes very little from actual "in country" tourism. Sure, lots of tourists come into Zambia to see Victoria Falls as a side trip while they are on holiday to one of the nearby countries, but very few actually travel into Zambia and spend money viewing wildlife(or doing anything else). The few tourists you will see deep inside Zambia are the "backpacker" type, and they spend very little money.

What make me sad is that the minister seems to believe that closing hunting will bring more non-hunting tourists. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hunting vs. wildlife tourism is not an either or situation, but it sounds like the animal right wackos have gotten to the minister .

Zambia does not have the money to protect their wildlife the way Zimbabwe or any of the surrounding countries do.

This has the potential to be catastrophic for the wildlife.

Exactly!!


Why don't hunters band some bucks together and buy a few leaders? Just sayin'

This is absolutely going to be detrimental to the wildlife' and it's a real shame, because Zambia has some of the best game concentrations in all of Africa. I hope it's resolved quickly.

IMO,we need a major change in leadership in all our major hunting organizations.It seems as if we are going nowhere with these guys.Pressure tacticts are needed,IMO.Boycott our own organizations.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Nderobo:
This is absolutely going to be detrimental to the wildlife' and it's a real shame, because Zambia has some of the best game concentrations in all of Africa.

It is true that Zambia does have great game concentrations in certain protected areas(mostly hunting areas that are protected by hunting operators). But I have been to almost every corner of the country(seriously) and I can tell you that most of it is devoid of game.

Very soon the whole country could have no wildlife left.
Poaching is rampant and the government has no money, or will, to fight them. Zambia has "national parks" that are nation parks in name only. These parks have no infrastructure, no guards, nothing. The poachers head in knowing that they are in no danger of being caught.

I really feel for Andrew and the other operators in Zambia.

This is absolute insanity what is going on with the closure of hunting in Zambia - my feelings go out to the likes of Andrew and other outfitters who have bust their butts over the years to manage their concessions to turn them into top areas !
I have hunted with my good friend Gavin Hume on numerous occasions over the years in his concession Kosonso/Busanga - and have seen first hand the hardship and toil that they have gone through to make things better for the surrounding community and wildlife ! Lets hope that the authorities see the light, and do the right thing - because if not the wildlife is doomed - and that's a fact !! Unfortunately I can just see the unscrupulous canned lion operators in South Africa rubbing their hands with glee !!

www.huntingreport.com



Zambia: Cat Hunting Closed Along with 19 Hunting Concessions for 2013

(posted January 10, 2013)

Lion and leopard hunting in Zambia is closed along with all hunting in the 19 hunting blocks that were to be reallocated for 2013. Hunting will continue on private fenced ranches and hunting blocks that were not included in the 2013-2018 allocation period. That's according to a communiqué issued this morning by Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo.

The Hunting Report reported last week on the canceled tenders for the 19 hunting blocks in question. The cancellation was due to allegations by Masebo of corruption among officials of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), which was in charge of the tender process. Meetings were held this week to determine how the 2013 hunting season would be handled in light of the cancelled tenders. Masebo held meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, first publicly with the Vice President, the Chief of Chiefs, Wildlife Producers Association of Zambia (WPAZ), the Professional Hunters Association of Zambia (PHAZ) and various Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), then again on Thursday with a smaller group, including PHAZ. The decision that emerged was to close the 19 concessions for this year and rework the tendering process for 2014. Masebo also decided to close all lion and leopard hunting throughout the country. Some industry sources claim that does not apply to the concessions that were not part of the allocations. The Hunting Report is seeking verification on this point and will report the answer before the Safari Club International Convention.

The reason given for the cat hunting closure is that the population figures reported by ZAWA and the subsequent quotas established by them reportedly are unsupported by scientific data. According to sources, Masebo wants to get better numbers to set new quotas for 2014, if the information supports a harvest at all. Since her initial cancellation of tenders, Minister Masebo reportedly has been meeting with chiefs and local scouts in the northern Luangwa areas. She claims they have told her that lions are scarce in their areas and far below the estimates provided by ZAWA.

If you have booked a hunt in one of the 19 suspended concessions or for a cat hunt in any of the other areas that did not go up for tender this year, contact your operator immediately to learn your options.

We will continue to follow developments and provide more clarification. - Barbara Crown, Editor

quote:

If you have booked a hunt in one of the 19 suspended concessions or for a cat hunt in any of the other areas that did not go up for tender this year, contact your operator immediately to learn your options.

What operators are still able to do business as usual?

This happened so quickly it is shocking . I saw a bunch of the Zambian guys at DSC. Seems their lives have even turned upside down.

I am told a leading cat expert ( non hunter with a PHD) told the minister in question that they just signed the death warrant for all of Zambia's cats. Will this have any impact? Who knows.

We can only hope.

Larry, I doubt it. Her decision was based on personal influence and emotion. Had nothing to do with science and sustainability.

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:


She, the minister, has said that she is not concerned with loss of income.

Quote 'Safari hunting, she asserted, did not generate enough revenue to make it a worthwhile endeavor.

"Why should we lose our animals for $3 million a year? The benefits we get from tourist visits are much higher," she added.'

I have been to Zambia about 6 times for a total of 6 months. I can tell you without any doubt that Zambia makes very little from actual "in country" tourism. Sure, lots of tourists come into Zambia to see Victoria Falls as a side trip while they are on holiday to one of the nearby countries, but very few actually travel into Zambia and spend money viewing wildlife(or doing anything else). The few tourists you will see deep inside Zambia are the "backpacker" type, and they spend very little money.

What make me sad is that the minister seems to believe that closing hunting will bring more non-hunting tourists. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hunting vs. wildlife tourism is not an either or situation, but it sounds like the animal right wackos have gotten to the minister.

Zambia does not have the money to protect their wildlife the way Zimbabwe or any of the surrounding countries do.

This has the potential to be catastrophic for the wildlife.

Once again, proof that the only way the minister and her ilk keep their ears apart is by picking their noses. No logic and no third dimensional fore-thought.

This is awful news>

I hope there is some skilful negotiating going on with the gov that we are not aware of.
Who knows, maybe this was just a case of the new gov chucking out the baby with the bathwater, when they tried to clamp down on nepotism and corruption in hunting block allocations.

Lets hope things get cleaned up soon. Maybe this is just a temporary closer, ZAWA/gov re-asses cat numbers, and release new quota numbers, stricter researched based numbers, 6 year old etc. that may be more deffendable to the feel good EU funders

If they can close it overnight, they can re-open it too.

lets help sanity prevail

http://allafrica.com/stories/201301160880.html


Zambia: ZAWA Owes Over KR 2 Billion
By Anthony Mulowa, 16 January 2013



TOURISM and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo says the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has a debt of more than KR 2 billion (K2 trillion).

Ms Masebo said the debt could be attributed to various facts among them poor administration.

She was speaking in Lusaka yesterday when she featured on Radio Phoenix 'Let the People Talk' programme.

The minister said the debt included non remittance of statutory obligations as well terminal benefits for former employees.

"We want to ensure that we have proper management of wildlife. The debt which ZAWA has accumulated could be as a result of poor management," she said.

Ms Masebo said ZAWA and the Government will have to raise funds to pay people and institutions which were owed.

She said the poor management dated back to the 'old days' and could be attributed to previous Government administrations.

She said the Patriotic Front (PF) government wanted to reverse the poor trend.

Ms Masebo wondered how a lion could be hunted for US$3000 in Zambia and later be sold at $70,000 elsewhere.

She said the little money which was paid for wildlife hunting was not properly accounted for.

She said she had no regrets for banning the hunting of wildlife in game reserves.

"This period will give us time to create more jobs in the sector as well as allow Government to come up with better legislation," she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Masebo said she would announce the new ZAWA board this week.

Sounds like she wants the money to stay in Zambia.

Once again the Ape's have control of the Zoo. Best wishes for a speedy solution Andrew. You and your country will be missed during this unfortunate monkey shines. LDK

I still dont under stand. Is this for cat only?? Or all hunting? I have a hunt booked for this June in Zambia,and the booking agent told me they still dont know.

It has to be me. Some how I must be the kiss of death.

2008 Two days off the ice and Polar Bear is closed for importation to the US. 5 years, no bear.

2011 Back to the Luangwa with Sir Fairgame and now Zambia is gone. Never saw Kafue or the Bangwela Swamps.

2012 Sankoyo Botswana All hunting to be closed by the end of 2013.

Really what the Hell is going on?

Jeff