Hunting

[Lisbeth]

WATCH: 'Hit it between the eyes' – elephants charge at hunters after one shot down

17.10.2018

WARNING: This video may upset viewers

phpBB [video]

A video that shows an elephant being hunted in the Nakabolelwa Conservancy in Namibia has surfaced online.

According to Namibia-based Corné Kruger, a qualified big game hunter, the video was shot three or four years ago. "I don't know why it only surfaced now," he said.

Kruger said elephant hunting was a sensitive issue but a "legal and sustainable" practice in Namibia.

The video shows two men with rifles aiming at a herd of elephants at a distance.

One of the men can be heard saying: "Hit it between the eyes," before they both open fire.

Kruger said the elephant that was shot was a bull.

"There is a small quota of elephants in the area and we only hunt two elephants a year," he told News24.

While game hunting may be frowned upon, it is also legal in SA and is guided by laws and regulations.

Benefits for communities

South African Hunters CEO Fred Camphor said each of the nine provinces has its own regulations on hunting.

"Any local citizen who has been declared competent and who legally owns an appropriate rifle may hunt those species available for hunting in terms of the applicable legislation and regulations in the relevant province," Camphor told News24.

"However, any foreigner may only hunt if accompanied by a registered professional hunter with registration in the province or country where the hunt is undertaken," he said.

Kruger, who owns Omujeve Hunting Safaris, said hunting had financially benefitted the communities in the vicinity of the Nakabolelwa Conservancy "hugely".

"We employ 12 people from the community, some of them as game guards," he said.

"The funds go to conservation and fund anti-poaching units," Kruger said.

Camphor added that in South Africa the animals hunted vary from province to province and hunting seasons also apply.

Poaching

"You could fairly freely accept that large carnivores (lion, leopard, hyena) elephant, rhino, and hippo may not be hunted without special permits anywhere in South Africa," he said.

"Some species may only be hunted with special permits because they are scarce and protected: Bontebok, black wildebeest, mountain zebra, to name but a few."

Hunting becomes poaching when legal permission is not obtained.

In the Kruger National Park alone, a total of 58 elephants were poached between January 1 and August 31, 2018.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, there are approximately 415 000 African elephants in the wild and the number is sharply declining due to the international ivory trade.

This year, 508 rhino were poached, compared to 691 for the same period in 2017. The critically endangered animals are poached for their horns.

[Lisbeth]

A pity that the elephants did not catch up!

I wonder how often they manage to kill one right away and how many are running around only wounded and suffering for who knows how long

[Flutterby]

Not even going to watch because I know it will make me mad!!

[Richprins]

Not a very professional-looking situation this as far as danger to the client is concerned...

[RogerFraser]

Namibian Wildlife response to the video :

[Lisbeth]

For once I would like o hear how the story ends

[Flutterby]

[Peter Betts]

Nothing will happen ..Money will change hands and the corruption and OVER issue of Permits will continue in all countries in Africa apart from Botswana ..Hunting for Conservation is a Myth deluxe ..It is the most corrupt and evil activity on this planet

[Richprins]

My hunter buddy says this hunt seems overly dangerous. It is normally done in a wooded area if on foot. There is no way one can outrun an elephant, and lone animals are normally targeted. It is certainly the opposite of a "canned hunt" though!

[Lisbeth]

Illegal collared elephant hunt in Greater Kruger – warden convicted

BY AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC EDITORIAL - 26 NOVEMBER 2018


The male collared elephant ‘George’ who was illegally hunted. © Sasha Muller

On 13 August this year a scheduled elephant hunt was conducted illegally in Balule Nature Reserve, a private reserve within the unfenced Great Kruger area, but outside of the Kruger National Park boundaries. A collared male elephant of 20-30 years old, with tusks of approximately 30 pounds on each side, was shot and killed during the illegal hunt.

Balule management laid criminal charges against the culprit as soon as the incident was reported.

A regional warden by the name of Frikkie Kotze, representing the private property within Balule during the hunt, pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined R50,000 OR five years imprisonment, with both options suspended for five years. In addition, he must pay R35,000 to Elephants Alive to replace the elephant collar. The hunting party consisted of Kotze, professional hunter and outfitter JJ Horn, the client and his wife.

Why was the hunt illegal?

According to information gleaned from various sources, the permit for this hunt was issued by Limpopo authorities (LEDET) whereas the elephant was killed in the Mpumalanga Province. Balule straddles both provinces, and according to our sources the hunting party strayed about 700 metres across the provincial boundary to shoot the elephant. Relevant hunting protocol demands that the warden and professional hunter should have a good working knowledge of the area – including provincial boundaries.

Why was the hunt a breach of accepted hunting protocol?

The elephant was collared and part of an ongoing research project by Elephants Alive. The elephant, sponsored by Youth 4 African Wildlife, was named ‘George’by the research team and was collared on 15 August 2016. Data from his movements and behaviour formed part of a study by the University of Nottingham into how geochemistry influences elephant movements. According to our sources the elephant was covered in mud at the time of the hunt and the warden and professional hunter claimed not to have seen the collar, as it was, according to him, “very tight around the elephant’s neck”. The collar was removed after the elephant was killed, and sent to Balule head warden Craig Spencer, who delivered the collar to Elephants Alive.


The heat map showing George’s movements. Elephants Alive have collared elephants near the Phalaborwa Mining Area to see why they are attracted to that area. These results are indicative of the mineral-rich soil in the area of the mine, compared to the surrounding landscape. © Elephants Alive

Aside from the above factors, all necessary permits and documentation for the hunt in Limpopo Province were apparently in place, and according to Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) hunting protocol, the elephant was of suitable age (20-30 years) and tusk size (30 pounds each side) for hunting purposes.

Comment from Balule representative

We contacted newly-appointed Balule chairperson Sharon Haussmann, who seems determined to stamp out illegal activities and actions that breach accepted protocol, and she had the following to say:

“I would like to state as chairperson of Balule Nature Reserve that I and my team are committed to good governance, with transparency and cooperation within the Greater Kruger system. This incident, a costly mistake by the regional warden, is extremely unfortunate and we worked pro-actively with the authorities for justice to prevail.”

Read original article: https://africageographic.com/blog/illeg ... convicted/