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The Wild Life
Observations and Reflections on Africa's Wildlife
III - Hannah
All over Southern Africa, ranches large and small are being converted from cattle and sheep into wild-game ranches. Hannah
Lodge is but one of some 9,000 private game ranches in South Africa alone – abundant with wildlife. Other African countries
offer hunting on large preserves and community concessions in addition to private ranches. Many formerly endangered species
now thrive on them. Whether hunting is offered or not, all must manage their game populations or face inevitable habitat destruction.
Where ranches border one another, boundaries are being dissolved, creating larger preserves and conservancies. South Africa’s
Kruger National Park is slowly creeping westward, as newly consolidated privately owned preserves become part of “Greater
Kruger”.
In Zimbabwe, twenty four separate farms and ranches joined forces, sold off all the cattle, tore
down all the fences, and created the “Save’ Valley Conservancy”, over one thousand square miles of pure
wildlife habitat – and some of the best big and dangerous game hunting in the world. Eighteen communities of indigenous
people border the Save’ Valley and all share in the work and revenue generated from the hunting and wildlife management.
One can only hope and pray that the Save’ Valley will survive the Mugabe reign of terror.
Besides the large
herds of springbok and the ever-present baboons, Gras supports herds of Gemsbok (Oryx), Blesbok, Blue Wildebeest, Zebra, Kudu,
and Hartebeest – all huntable, as well as healthy populations of Warthog, Steenbok, Jackal, Wildcat and countless other
small mammals, birds and reptiles. There is also a growing herd of Giraffe and there are plans to bring in a White Rhino breeding
group. Other ranches and hunting preserves support Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard, Cheetah, Black and White Rhino, and Lion.
African wildlife is enjoying a renaissance through sustainable, consumptive use, on privately owned wild-game ranches,
community operated concessions and large private preserves – all dependent upon hunting revenues for their survival.
Even American ranches (which were instrumental in helping to prevent the extinction of the American Bison over
a century ago) are making a contribution. The Scimitar Horned Oryx, for example, (Northern Africa's cousin to the Oryx at
Gras) has been declared EW - “Extinct in the wild” by the IUCN. The AZA's* “Species Survival Plan”
for them depends entirely upon the 1200 or so Oryx held in zoos. They fail to mention that there are at least 2000 Scimitar-Horned
Oryx on American Hunting ranches where they are thriving and can be hunted year round. _________________________________________________________________ Next Page: People _________________________________________________________________ Notes (*)
* AZA: American Zoo and Aquarium Association
* IUCN: World Conservation
Union
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