| Charles_Helm |
| (.333 member) |
| 09/11/07 01:17 PM |
|
Re: Lion Hunting Closure in Botswana
|
From The Hunting Report:
Botswana Closes Lion Hunting
(posted October 26, 2007)
The southern African country of Botswana has abruptly suspended all lion hunting again, ostensibly because of concerns over the number of lions being killed in defense of livestock in certain areas of the country. I have that from Sarel van der Merwe, Chair of the African Lion Working Group. "As a precautionary measure, the Department has taken a decision not to issue any lion hunting quota until further notice," van der Merwe writes in a press release that crossed my desk this morning.
This is the second time that Botswana has closed lion hunting. The first closure was in 2002, and it lasted until December 2005, at which time a minimal harvest of one cat per concession was authorized. No one we spoke with this morning was willing to speculate on when - or if - this closure will be lifted.
"We are compiling a response to the minister's order," says Debbie Peake of Mochaba Developments in Maun. "We want to be sure they have good information about the status of lions in this country."
As this is written, we understand Botswana outfitters are contacting all of their lion clients to see how they want to handle bookings for 2008 and beyond. The worry at this point is where the reduction in hunting opportunity in Botswana is going to end. Already, quotas on most animals, except for elephant, have been gradually reduced in recent years. One observer this morning called the move a "gradual throttling of the hunting industry." Looming in the background is the imminent naming of Ian Khama as President of Botswana. Khama has said publicly he intends to close hunting altogether when he becomes the nation's fourth president next April.
On the bright side, closing hunting is not a foregone conclusion by any means. For one thing, sustainable use of wildlife resources in Botswana is official national policy, and hundreds of thousands of Botswana citizens directly profit from sustainable use. Trying to close hunting by presidential decree could create a political firestorm. Then there is the "problem" of Botswana's elephant population. Botswana has so many elephants it simply can't halt the harvest of jumbo. In fact, while quotas on other animals have been reduced recently, elephant quota has been increased. What may be emerging here is a smaller, highly specialized hunting industry focused largely on elephant hunting.
In next month's issue, we will have much more analysis and news to pass along. In the meantime, if you have a lion hunt booked in Botswana, get in touch with your outfitter.
[Emphasis added]
From another board (2005):
Quote:
Originally posted by Ganyana:
I was at school with Ian Khama and his views haven't changed much. He is King, Vice President & Comander of the defence forces (Police Army and Air wing). At present he is happy to let someone else be "president" and the fall guy if anything goes wrong but there are rumours he might run for President. If he does, by by safari hunting.( hunting for the locals will continue)
Botswana doesn't need the money- they have large gold reserves that remain un-mined. Ian's Father rekoned they should keep that for the future when the dimonds ran out...
Botswana is the only country in Africa with an anual Budget surpluss which they lend to the world Bank! Technically they are better off financially than the USA!
Quote:
Originally posted by ForrestB:
Vice President Seretse Ian Khama is personally anti-hunting and is influenced heavily by Derek Joubert (an anti-hunting activist and film maker). Some of the dual-use concessions are now controlled by anti-hunters, including Joubert, and hunting is no longer allowed.
Botswana is perhaps the only country whose wildlife might fare relatively well under a no-hunting policy. The country is wealthy by African standards, is not corrupt, and has strong anti-poaching activities. The most severe problem is that there is already an over-population of elephants that will need to be dealt with on a continuing basis.
Hunting is an important source of income and employment, but is nowhere near a "billion dollors" per year business.
2004:
Quote:
Originally posted by T.Carr:
IF, and it's a big IF, they can work out a program where you can accurately age lions in the field, then Dr. Packer's paper basically says that you can hunt all the 6+ year old lions you want -- without having a negative affect on the remaining lion populations of younger males, females and cubs.
That sounds like great news for hunters.
The kind of scientific research from a creditable researcher that CITES (or Kenya) can't ignore.
This probably won't make much difference in Botswana, since Dereck Joubert is the de facto wildlife official and Ian Khama's buddy (and business partner).
Regards,
Terry
[Sorry to bring posts from another board, but this is where I got the info I remembered a bit incorrectly about possible business ties and I had not seen the same speculation here.]