The boost in animal populations under South Africa’s safari experience, emphasised during a recent world agricultural journalists’ congress in the country, runs contrary to the expectations for north Queensland crocodile hunting safaris put forward by Katter’s Australian Party.
Member for Dalrymple, Shane Knuth, recently announced his party was drafting legislation to introduce culling, safari hunting, croc removal and egg collection initiatives for Queensland, giving indigenous communities the chance for an economic shot in the arm through tours, in response to concerns at a perceived increase in crocodile numbers.
According to Wildlife Ranching South Africa CEO, Adri Kitshoff-Botha, the country’s 12,000 game ranches are looking after 20 million hectares of land in an industry that’s bringing in 200 billion Rand (A$19.9b) annually.
“From the 1800s to 1960, there were less than 600,000 head of wildlife,” she said. “We have more wildlife now than at any time before. There’s 18,000,000 plus.”
The country’s game meat industry currently produces 120,000 to 140,000 tonnes a year, which is equivalent to 20 per cent of its beef production capacity.
The group is now working with the government to set aside another 10m ha of land, which would feed 10 million head of game.
“If something has a value, people will look after it,” Adri said, sharing a slide showing the increase in endangered species numbers.
According to WRSA statistics, White Rhino numbers have increased from 30 in 1950 to 17,000 in 2015, while Black Rhino numbers have increased from 30 to 1960 head over the same period.
Game farmer Ellis Lourens, who operates the Thithombo game breeding operation and Monate Lodge bush retreat in Limpopo Province, noted that for the industry to remain in business and grow, it needed strong regulation.
“Kenya in the 1970s stopped hunting and lost 70 to 75 per cent of its game,” he said. “Communities go to poaching instead.”
Ellis said that proper governance, values and funding were needed for the responsible offtake of animals, if for no other reason than to counter animal welfare pressures that were inevitable.
“The average game rancher cares for his animals, but it’s seen as commercialising, and hunters are seen as cruel.
“We can only act responsibly. As long as it’s ethical, ranching plays a role.”
He acknowledged that thousands of elephants and rhinoceros were poached each year on the continent, thanks to poverty, and said it was even more important that legitimate industries like his were in place.
Some 94 per cent of the industry is aimed at hunting and 6pc does breeding.
Breeding has become an important pillar in the country’s wildlife industry, which over the past 60 to 70 years has been the backbone of the country’s tourism industry.
Hunting has long been a key facet, and wildlife managers believe that with proper regulation and management it can remain so, but they see breeding joining wildlife tourism and game produce as equally important elements.
Adri Kitshoff-Botha said since 1991 a steady stream of conventional farmers had been integrating game farming with their operations.
“We have been having our worst drought in a century so we expect to see more change over as crop farming becomes more difficult,” she said, explaining that although the country is juggling with a number of land reform issues, private land ownership was permitted.
Breeding is aimed at improving genetics of species dulled after generations of unregulated hunting.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
