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From a hunting perspective, the preservation of biodiversity on the
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is however also on the sustainable utilisation of wildlife.
Why exotics? - by Jan Westdyk
Ratelfontein Private Game Reserve (Northern Cape Province, RSA) is one of many farms on which exotic species roam freely. It has 25 different species of game on 13 000 hectares and is primarily a hunting farm with conservation breeding projects and an ecotourism focus.
I would like to emphasise why keeping exotic species is of importance nationally as well as internationally:
- The well-established and very healthy populations of exotic species such as the Arabian oryx, scimitar-horned oryx and American bison in South Africa should be highly valued by conservation/preservation minded individuals worldwide as it is out of these populations that a species might be saved should something of catastrophic proportions happen to specific populations where they are endemic. It could be well imagined what uproar it would create globally with powerful NGO's, should these healthy "exotic" populations be exterminated because they have become valueless due to proposed SA legislation.
- Income generated through the hunting of these animals by foreign and local trophy hunters as well as income generated through live game sales should not be overlooked. The survival of any business depends on its ability to either differentiate itself from its competitors and to have some competitive advantage. The presence of such "exotic" animals for hunting has an obvious attraction to trophy hunters. South Africa is probably the only country in the world were it is possible to hunt the rare Arabian oryx and other than Texas (in USA) one is also probably not able to hunt the scimitar-horned oryx anywhere else. A ban on the breeding and retention of these populations on game ranches would evolve in destroying the conservation ("use wisely") of endangered species.
- Game farming (per example in the Karoo) is not financially viable if one has to rely on the income that can be generated from low value (average R200.00 per springbuck from meat culling/sales or R300.00 from the proverbial biltong hunter) and high impact herds (1 500 to 2 500 head) on ranches. As a result thereof there has been a move to higher value, smaller herds which, apart from serving in helping to protect grazing and browsing conditions, improve return on investment. Subsequently there has been a high demand for Cape buffalo, roan and sable with prices exceeding the value that can be derived from hunting income per trophy bull. Exotic animals fall into the same category other than the sudden outcry from Nature Conservation against the continued breeding thereof.
- Zoological gardens depend for part of their income on the sale of surplus game to exotic ranches. Whilst they will still be able to trade with one another, sales figures will drop significantly with little if any financial gain to the institution. At present there is no market for exotic game due to the implementation of the new proposed legislation by Nature Conservation despite it not even having been promulgated by Parliament into law.
Blackbuck or Indian antelope - Exotic game ranching is a highly valued activity where cross-breeding will not be tolerated. It is accordingly inappropriate to argue that certain species of exotic game animals would be a threat to local species due to cross-breeding. Admittedly it is important that research should be done before exotic species are introduced to ranches where they did not previously occur. Research such as the impact on habitat, competition with endemic species and then also cross-breeding possibilities should be looked into; only thereafter a constructive decision can be taken.
- Inbreeding should not be allowed on ranches where these species are already well established. Separate blood lines should without hesitation be allowed to be brought in if only to prevent signs of inbreeding to develop in a valuable population. Inbreeding would cause a population to become an inferior gene pool for the species. An example that comes to mind is that during 2005, because of "exotic" legislation, a permit was not allowed to simply swap an Arabian oryx bull for another Arabian oryx bull from a proven different blood line to prevent inbreeding in both highly valuable herds. Reasoning such as this simply should not make sense to any responsible conservation/preservation minded individual.
- Profitable game farming leads to job creation (read BEE). Should the proposed legislation on "exotic" game ranching be enforced, job losses would be the end result on many a game farm. Staff are employed and trained as managers, trackers, skinners, caterers, drivers, waiters, receptionists, co-ordinators and game guides. All of these employment opportunities can and will sadly become non-existent should open-minded governing bodies not sensibly guide the course of events.
- Different categories of game ranching should be established, e.g. exotic ranching with sensible, well-researched restrictions vs. endemic game ranching. This in the end would make more sense than totally prohibiting farming with exotic game.
- Decisions have been made previously without properly consulting the role-players in the game industry. Game ranchers were asked for their input towards the new proposed Biodiversity Act only after the foundations had already been laid. It makes one wonder what weight our input will have in the finalising of these proposed drafts?
- Would Government not be wise to rather make funds available so that proper scientific research could be done to determine the impact of so-called exotic species and other endemic species on their habitat before deciding to prohibit the breeding thereof? A pragmatic rather than dogmatic approach is called for. If through scientific research it is proven that a species is not a danger for endemic fauna and flora, on what grounds should such a species be banned? If proven to have a negative effect then by all means such a species should be restricted. It just makes common sense.
- A fact that cannot be over-emphasised is that as soon as game ranching becomes unprofitable, the rancher will have no choice but to switch over to a more economic viable activity which will most likely include cattle, goat or sheep farming. In such an event Government should ask themselves whether in the end Nature Conservation did indeed succeed in their approach. Should we not rather take a step back from the dogmatic approach of banning all exotic game species and rather take a good hard look at the way in which land is used instead? It is important to keep in mind that wild animal and bird species such as the martial eagle, black-backed jackal, black eagle and caracal, to name but a few, are indeed unwelcome (though sometimes through ignorance) on especially sheep farms. Would it in the end not be preferable to allow the farming with exotic game species, where the conservation/preservation minded farmer is much more sensitive towards the environment than to have large stretches of land ploughed up for agricultural purposes? It must be assumed that the proposed Biodiversity Act strives to improve or at least maintain the present biodiversity. The proposed legislation in respect of animal translocations would force present game ranches to revert to other monoculture forms of farming, which could have serious detrimental effects on biodiversity.
With the above-mentioned taken into account it is therefore argued that exotic game ranching in South Africa cannot be banned but should simply be controlled in a sensible manner so as to save these endangered species through the establishment of healthy populations and the trade in individuals of healthy populations.
With regard to the endangered status of some exotic species, the following remarks:
Scimitar-horned oryx
It is thought that through uncontrolled hunting by man as well as through competition with domesticated livestock, the number of scimitar-horned oryx have been reduced up to the point where they have become extinct in the wild. Indeed they have been listed as extinct by the IUCN (1998) and appear on Appendix 1 of Cites (1975). Private herds are established in SA & Texas where they are at present doing well.
(Rowland Ward, 26th ed., vol. 1; SCI Record Book of Trophy Animals, Ed. XI, Vol. 1, Africa)
Arabian oryx
The last wild Arabian oryx was shot in 1972. All that remained of this species were animals kept in private collections as well as individuals in the World Herd in the USA. The first reintroductions (out of the captive bred animals) into the wild took place during 1982 when selected individuals were released in Oman. More introductions took place into Bahrain, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Poaching became a serious problem at the beginning of February 1996 and it is thought that over 200 individuals were poached form the Oman herd. A wild population estimate of a total of about 886 individuals was made during 2003. IUCN status (2004): Endangered. The Arabian oryx is indeed one of the world's rarest mammals and as responsible managers we should do all in our power to preserve/conserve each and every herd of these animals worldwide.
Jan Westdyk of Ratelfontein Private Game Reserve can be contacted on:
E-mail: janwestdyk@ratelfontein.com
Mobile: + 27 72 124 1620
Website: www.ratelfontein.com
