Illegal Leopard Hunt Under Investigation
Jana-Mari Smith
28 July 2011



AN illegal trophy hunt of a leopard, implicating a South African hunter, is being investigated by Namibian authorities.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is probing a South African hunter, Ferdi Kemp, for an alleged illegal leopard hunt that he arranged for an American client in April 2009.

Kemp, who conducts hunts in Namibia through Namibia Pro Hunting & Safaris, said this week that he is assisting the Police with their investigation "because I am innocent".

Kemp's passport was temporarily confiscated by the Police in June before a court appearance at the Okahandja Magistrate's Court was cancelled. Since then, Kemp has returned to South Africa.

His next court appearance is scheduled for August. Numerous attempts to obtain details on the investigation from the ministry, on whether Kemp has been charged or fined, failed this week.

It is alleged that Kemp allowed his client to shoot a leopard during a trophy hunt on a farm outside of Okahandja, despite the absence of legal permits.

Kemp rubbished the allegation, claiming that he paid a Namibian professional hunter (PH) N$10 000 for the day. He claimed that his payment should have ensured that a legal permit be obtained by the PH. He could not explain why he did not check with the PH on the day of the hunt whether a permit was granted for the hunt of the protected species.

"I have a hunting operation in Namibia. I may not hunt leopard in Namibia without a PH from Namibia present. I approached a PH to accompany the American on the hunt. The PH neglected to obtain the permits after we paid him," Kemp alleged.

A spokesperson for the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) explained however that the responsibility of conducting a legal hunt, including the application for permits, rests with the person who is directly responsible for the client.

"The person who fetches the hunters is responsible for the permits. If the hunter himself cannot legally apply, it must be arranged beforehand and it must be discussed".

The case came to light after the American client lodged an official complaint at an international hunting forum earlier this year. The complaint was made after the client was unable to obtain his trophy from the leopard kill because of the lack of legal documentation.

His complaint prompted the local investigation by the ministry, the Police and the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha).

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism confirmed their investigation into Kemp, but could not yet reveal the identity of local hunters who are linked to the case.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201109150576.html



Leopard Hunter Admits Guilt
Jana-Mari Smith
15 September 2011



South African hunter Ferd Kemp paid a fine of N$4 000 in late August after he admitted to taking a client on an illegal leopard hunt in Namibia in 2009.

The Okahandja magistrate's court this week confirmed the payment by Kemp, who was fined for hunting protected game and hunting a leopard without a permit.

Kemp owns 'Namibia Pro Hunting & Safaris' and claimed in July that he was "innocent".

Kemp conducted a leopard hunt in early 2009 with an American client, despite the fact that he is not registered in Namibia as a professional hunter. The hunt was moreover conducted without a Ministry of Environment and Tourism permit.

The Ministry began investigating Kemp and a Namibian professional hunter after Kemp's American client lodged an official complaint against Kemp earlier this year. The hunter complained after he was unable to claim the trophy, because of a lack of legal documentation required to ship the leopard trophy to the US.

Gideon Cloete, the Namibian professional hunter, was also fined N$4 000 for his involvement in the hunt. Hunting industry insiders however say that Cloete's involvement was minimal, and that while he is a registered professional hunter in Namibia, he was hired by Kemp to act as a dog handler on the hunt, which took place on a farm close to Okahandja.

"The entire initiative came from Kemp. He told the outfitter in South Africa that he would obtain the hunting permits. Cloete only worked with the dogs," a Namibian hunter said this week.

According to the hunting industry, illegal hunting is rife in Namibia, and is threatening an industry thatplay's a vital role generating income and protecting wildlife.

Marina Lamprecht, an executive member of the Namibian Professional Hunting Association, last month said that the most serious threat to the local trophy hunting industry is "the increase in illegal and unethical trophy hunting, which threatens to damage the reputation and popularity of Namibia as an international hunting destination".


Lamprecht added that law enforcement has to be tightened. She said that "with the current system of often merely issuing an acknowledgment of guilt fine to those caught hunting illegally, this practice will continue uncontrolled".

She said that in most cases, the culprits are "South Africans operating illegally in our country, by posing as Namibian professional hunters or trophy hunting operators".

However, like many, she said that Namibians are often found to be involved, by sighing hunting permits on behalf of non-registered outsiders.

A local hunter yesterday said that "every Namibian who signs a permit for an illegal hunter" must face legal consequences".

How stupid can you be to not check for a leopard license before you pull the trigger??