Namibia is actively promoting hunting as an essential conservation tool.

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Namibia Bans Hunting Bans
Tue, Mar 8, 2016
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism will actually promote hunting within its borders.

Animals of all shapes and sizes congregate around a watering hole in Namibia's Etosha National Park. (Photo by James Brew)

Namibia has made the unusual and exciting move to ban hunting bans. The country will officially oppose any calls for restricting hunting or exporting wildlife products from the country.

All Africa reported the story Monday. Namibia’s cabinet recently voted to officially be pro-hunting, opposing any and all bans on hunting that may be called for in the future. Cabinet members were directed to promote the decision at a variety of public forums, and to “communicate at all possible opportunities its importance to the national conservation and sustainable development programs.”

That was only the first measure taken by the cabinet. The governing body also directed the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to actively campaign against any proposed bans or restrictions.

A code of conduct for conservation hunting is currently being developed in conjunction with the moves. The cabinet also expressed its support for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and its efforts to stop wildlife crimes.

The Namibian reported that the actions are a direct result of anti-hunters’ opposition to the cabinet’s 2013 decision to sell five black rhino hunts for trophy hunting. The rhino taken by American Corey Knowlton in 2014 generated $350,000 for the species’ conservation, but also drew death threats for the hunter. Fox News reported that Knowlton had to hire a full-time secretary just to deal with the influx of hate mail.

The rhino taken by Knowlton was a older, non-breeding male, selected for taking because of its increasingly aggressive behavior. The bull would have been culled regardless of Knowlton’s hunt in order to prevent injury or death to the rest of the herd.

The cabinet got out in front of future hunting bans — rather than let anti-hunters prevent necessary conservation efforts from taking place and risk losing the benefits hunting provides.