people,
read below the press statement from the botswana government released via Botswana Wildlife management Authority (BWMA) this morning.

TELEPHONE: 3191312 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT,

TELEGRAMS: MEWT WILDLIFE AND TOURISM

PRIVATE BAG BO 199
FAX: 3951092
GABORONE
REFERENCE EWT 1/6/4 III ()

ALL CORRESPONDENCE MUST BE ADDRESSED TO
THE PERMANENT SECRETARY

20th July 2011

ALL EDITORS,

RE: MMEGI ARTICLE RESPONSE: “WILDLIFE HUNTING TO CEASE IN BOTSWANA”.

We refer to the above article carried on Mmegi issue of Friday 15th July, 2011.

It was said that; the Botswana government is in advanced legal process to ban the hunting of wildlife in favour of photographic safari.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism would like to clarify that there is no decision made to ban wildlife hunting. Instead, what is being done is to encourage photographic tourism and gradually limit but not ban wildlife hunting. It must be known that species with declining numbers will be considered for limited hunting while those with increasing numbers like elephants, will continue to be hunted within CITES framework.

On the 13th and 14th July 2011, the Ministry and other stakeholders organized two days training workshop for local Media Practitioners on Poverty and Environmental Reporting. It was at this workshop that the Ministry spokesperson highlighted the benefits of photographic tourism to Community Trusts in the country as compared to just issuing hunting quotes during a discussion on Community Based Resource National Management (CBNRM). But there was no reference to hunting ban. Unfortunately, he was quoted out of context.

In conclusion, the Ministry states that the Botswana Government has no plan to ban hunting in this country and we would like to assure all hunting safari companies and affected communities that live near wildlife management areas who continues to benefit from hunting. The Mmegi story does not reflect current government thinking on the subject of wildlife hunting.

Yours Faithfully


Mable Bolele
Coordinator, Communications, Research and Development

Another AR rumor gone mad? Thank goodness.

Thanks Ivan, closing ele in Bots would be insane but with Khama who knows. I know several very long time operators who have either sold out to photo or just got out of areas that are/were some of the most beautiful and unique areas in Africa because of the ban on cats and ban/limited quota on PG. All that is really left are areas that support ele hunting. Some of the areas like KD 1,2,10 12 in the west supported IMHO the best lion hunting and high quality PG in all of Africa and what I wished would happen is they make some scientific effort to document the health of those areas before the bans versus 5 years later. I think we all know the answer. Photo will never go there because of the remoteness and sadly it is all over for those types of areas.

Botswana Lions, Leopards and Hyena's are hungry...send more tourists!

And I hope the Ele's , after destroying habitat wander by me next year!

Read the fine print between the lines guys.

"no decision made to ban wildlife hunting" and
"species with declining numbers will be considered for limited hunting"

I read it as confirming the last "rumor" of all but jumbo closed.

The press release from the Ministry was in response to a blog on Facebook called Lion Aid - I picked up the pre-release of a megi article published on their anti hunting blog - this was passed to BWMA who then approached the Ministry for official comment which resualted in the press release. I have since been black listed from the page which is a strong anti lion hunting organization - I have been appealing to SCI and AR members to go on to the blog - Facebook - Lion Aid and combat these lunatics with the truth.
We predict that hunting as we kow it will be phased out in concessions as and when concession leases come up for re-newal except for elephant and any other species that government deterimine are excessive in numbers which may be hunted on special dispensations issued by government.

It has also been leaked that there is a move to change the land use in the Kalahari - areas mentioned above KD 1 KD 2 KD11/12 and KD 15 to agriculture /cattle - this is after the areas became non viable after the closure of Lion and Leopard hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by Nganga:
Read the fine print between the lines guys.

"no decision made to ban wildlife hunting" and
"species with declining numbers will be considered for limited hunting"

I read it as confirming the last "rumor" of all but jumbo closed.

I read the same as you.

quote:

Originally posted by Safaris Botswana Bound:
It has also been leaked that there is a move to change the land use in the Kalahari - areas mentioned above KD 1 KD 2 KD11/12 and KD 15 to agriculture /cattle - this is after the areas became non viable after the closure of Lion and Leopard hunting.

That just breaks my heart. I hunted 12 and 2 and to me it is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Africa. I heard that Strumpher wasn't going to bid on them and I don't blame him a bit. Even when he had cats he still battled to get his pg quota filled and now it would be impossible....The bushman tradition will die with these changes. The last time I was in 2 for leopard the village was begging us to take out a cattle killing lion and there was nothing we could do. With hunting gone you and I both know what will happen to what's left of the lions.

Dawnroar - sadly you are 100% correct - we are proud to have been a part of some amazing firsts in prooving hunting benifits a species - with Clive Eaton in Ghanzi we pioneerd the leopard hunting with bushmen and hounds - at the time the farmers hated leopard and destroyed them on site - we introduced them to the concept that we would pay them $5000-00 per leopard suddenly the leopard had a value and were tolerated and protected. Government has since greatly reduced leopard quota and the farmers have reverted back to destroying them on sight. We were the first outfitter to re-open the Kgalagadi KD 1 KD 2 KD 11/12 and KD 15 were all our areas from 2000 to 2005, the locals were poaching and protecting their cattle - through hunting we were able to replace their meat requirement with game delivered to their door , at the time we had a quota of 100 of each species - so for each animal shot the community recieved a resource royalty and they recieved a very hansome market related lease fee. This flood of meat from trophies and financial income stopped all poaching and poisoning of predators. Government closed Lion and shortly thereafter leopard - the viability of the area caused the companies to pull out and without any income you can only imagine the wrath of these folks to problem predators and the wildlife. Tt was best said by a anti hunter we once had in our camp - who said they would prefer all the elephants die from starvation than one be shot - which made it clear to me anti hunters are not concerned with conservation or species but ONLY in their own opinion, The anti hunters fuel this with misinformation on Facebook cites like LION AID and LIONS FOR AFRICA - hence the need for every concerned hunter to visit these cites and fight them with the truth.
Happy hunting Graeme Pollock

quote:

Originally posted by Nganga:
Read the fine print between the lines guys.

"no decision made to ban wildlife hunting" and
"species with declining numbers will be considered for limited hunting"

I read it as confirming the last "rumor" of all but jumbo closed.

Exactly!