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PROTECT: Private land is being enclosed with game-proof fences in many parts of the country. Photo: FILE 
PROTECT: Private land is being enclosed with game-proof fences in many parts of the country. Photo: FILE 

Illicit trophy hunting practices put sector at risk – report

Lucrative industry has a ‘dark side’
A new report has warned that some operators, driven by greed, are increasingly ignoring the stringent laws and associated permit requirements in place to regulate the sector.
Ellanie Smit
While Namibia's trophy hunting industry offers numerous benefits for the sustainable use of natural resources, concerns have also been mounting around less-than-savoury industry practices.

According to Namibia’s National Report on Wildlife Protection for 2023, the legal hunting industry and associated taxidermy, game breeding, harvesting of wildlife for meat and other auxiliary industries are a vital and rapidly expanding part of Namibia’s rural economy.

It said numerous commercial farmers have switched from livestock to a mix of livestock and wildlife, or to exclusive wildlife-based operations.

“Similarly lucrative, conservation hunting concessions in communal conservancies as well as some multi-use parks such as Bwabwata have been a vital source of income for conservancies and rural communities.”

This has facilitated wildlife recoveries on freehold and communal land, as the value of wildlife is recognised as a viable economic option by landholders.

However, the boom has also had negative effects.



Dark side

According to the report, private land is being enclosed with game-proof fences in many parts of the country as landholders seek to keep their valuable wildlife to themselves.

“This has cut off the ability of wildlife to move in response to rainfall and food availability and is leading to severe overgrazing in many areas.”

Game breeding has added another dimension as breeders seek to supply the trophy industry with a variety of trophies and exotic species.

“While these activities can be financially rewarding, they provide no conservation benefits.”

The lucrative trophy industry is also unfolding a much darker, illicit side, the report warned.

“Driven by greed, some operators are increasingly ignoring the stringent laws and associated permit requirements in place to regulate the sector.”

It said numerous transgressions are being uncovered across the spectrum, among hunting guides and operators and in auxiliary sectors.

Some of the worst infringements are in relation to high-value species, the report stressed.

“The popularity and high price of leopard trophies, combined with the difficulties of legitimate leopard hunts, have enticed illegal activities.”



Negative publicity

In-depth investigations by the environment ministry, in close collaboration with the police, are leading to an increasing number of arrests.

The report warned that illegal activities are further entrenching an already negative public image for the trophy-shooting sector.

While these incidents are being actively countered by law enforcement, the damage to the industry is worrying and escalating.

“For the past decade, the environment ministry has promoted conservation hunting to separate positive operations from negative activities.”

It said that unfortunately, some operators are ignoring this opportunity to redefine the industry in a positive light.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

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