quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
Most all of the white rhino are privately owned and most of the money generated goes into private pockets. Ultimately I suppose it goes to conservation, albeit indirectly.

I think it's only been fairly recently that there are more white rhino in private hands than on public lands, and if you discount the ones from John Hume, now African Parks (most of which will be moved to public areas it seems), there are still more on public lands I think?
For black rhinos most are on public lands.

See this paper: Importance of private and communal lands to sustainable conservation of Africa's rhinoceroses

It gets a bit muddled, as in Zimbabwe most rhinos are on private land (Buby, Save for example), but are not privately owned. So the owners of the land provide the security, bear the costs (I don't think the government pays for rhino conservation there), but they can't benefit from it.

I have seen two wild black rhino.

It was magical, both times.

I would not want to hunt them or their white rhino cousins under current conditions.

Damned shame, truly.

These were in Zimbabwe. Only thing mentioned was rhino on SA. I hunt with a bow so yeah I like hunting too.Not in Africa as I like my big bores

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
I'll never complete the "big five" because I have no desire to hunt rhino under current conditions.

Exactly.

And I am not a trophy hunter.

I hunt because I like hunting.

Lion, buffalo I refuse to hunt in South Africa.

Plains game hunting there is great.

But not lion and buffalo.

At least for me.

Anyway, I have hunted these in the wild for years, and will continue to do so.

I’d have to evaluate it at some point but if the money goes to conservation I don’t have a problem really as it’s all about the money. No money they are extinct for sure as who is going to pay the bills?

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
I have seen two wild black rhino.

It was magical, both times.

I would not want to hunt them or their white rhino cousins under current conditions.

Damned shame, truly.

I agree with Saeed. While I've never hunted in South Africa, I wouldn't have a problem hunting plains game there, under the right circumstances.
But I'd never hunt big game there. Or anywhere where the game was either constricted by a fence, or I was constricted with a maximum size.

I won't shoot a rhino because I won't shoot an animal in a paddock or an animal that has a name.

I probably only have one more elephant and one more lion left in me -- we'll see how next year goes. but I'll hunt buffalo and leopard until I die.