What's the Value of Biodiversity?

[Richprins]

Some comments from elsewhere:

I have completed the SANParks Tourism Research questionnaire.
And i have to say this is one of the worst questionnaires i have ever seen.
The Font at the tables is so small that it is nearly impossible to read them on a large Monitor 24".
Sorry, some of the questions are really stupid.
as example:
How much are you willing to pay in Rand value to see the following species?
If an animal with a tracking device (collar) were to be sighted, would you be satisfied with the sighting?
How much would you pay in Rand (R) value for a GUARANTEED sighting of the following?

Maybe the officials should decide to build a KNP Zoo with stuffed animals for the people with no Time, too much money and no love for nature.

If i go to a national park i will try to see specific animals and hunt them down with my camera.
If i see them i am luck and satisfied. If not i had a wonderful day in the park and a lot of great other spottings.

I think the purpose of this questionnaire is to find new potential sources of income then to protect nature.

Normaly i do not write any topics but this time i think it ist better to write then to have a amusement park KNP.

with best regards

### from Germany

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Is this true? Are there really a questionnaire with absurd questions like these?

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It is very difficult to evaluate the questionnaire without seeing the complete questionnaire and not knowing what the objectives were for the research being conducted.
From the sound of it, and at risk of making a complete fool of myself, it would appear that they are looking at introducing 'guaranteed sightings" trips. These would be pretty expensive and exclusive, and certainly doesn't appeal to me or most forum members.

Would really know what the objectives are and who compiled the questionnaire.

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Hi all, I started this questionairre and gave up when it came to the "prices" section; it seems absurd to ask how much one would pay,lets be honest there are people who could afford a huge amount for a sighting and others who struggle to even get the money to visit a park who would just give up if they had to pay again for the privilege of a sighting.

Come on Sanparks you can do better

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Hear, hear - I did the same and gave up when it came to "pricing" section. What on earth is one supposed to put there?????
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Some years ago, when being at a Big5 Reserve not to be mentioned, I was in charge of a programme, to tag the animals in said reserve with chips, sending a signal to a computer system via Wi-fi covering the whole reserve.

I did make huge tips on weekends, cause as the FM on site I had to have a computer in my house tracking the animals.

But does this signal the end to self drive? What is the plan really?

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SANParks please draft a questionnaire based on what problems have been raised on this forum. I bet you will get a very, good response.

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And having got past that bit there are some interesting questions on guides and game drives and expectations.

I completed the questionnaire (to the best of my ability). Only the last section regarding guides made any sense.

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I wonder if those "expert" at NWU actually tried to answer their own questions when they developed this questionnaire???

The old GIGO principal applies here - ask unanswerable questions and you will get a response (but of what value??) - get a proper commercial firm who knows what they are doing to do your research, it will cost more, but you will get meaningful and reliable results.
I left the bit about what I would be prepared to pay out. I don't think that it would apply to most of us.
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I do think that the bit about the guides is important and relevant. Its something that has come up frequently on the forum.

We are a bit of a rare and nutty bunch here. I would be happy just listening to the wind... or lack there of.

If there is going to be shift towards more guided game drives, I am ok with that. It might take some of the cars off the roads. If it also means more being focused on training.. well that is also ok.

From a money making point of view, I am not Sanpark's best asset I spend very little, use their roads extensively and will sleep in anything, well almost anything.

Sanparks does have to make money. Sadly, it cannot be off me.

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I also see no question asking your normal self drive person whether they would have a problem with all these animals collared, ( at least in pics we will be able to tell if it was taken in Kruger by the collar )

What does the collaring entail, the animal needs to be put under stress to be collared (darting process), then as far as I am aware but willing to be shown otherwise, this would happen a couple of times in the animals life as the batteries need replacing.

How many animals around each camp would need to be collared? You can't just collar one and expect to guarantee a sighting as the animal could be in an inaccessible area, so you would need to collar a couple to up your odds. So even the people who are there to experience nature in their natural environment ( your core clients at moment) would have their experiences dampened.
Am sure all the photographers would also like their pics with collars.

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Very poorly done questionnaire and I would have doubts as to the accuracy of the results, they will be able to be interpreted in so many ways.


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I am seeing it as fact finding. Spending money always carries risk. Just have your say. If the result is that there is no market, well, then the risk is too high.

My responses all point towards the silence and spiritual aspect of Kruger. If that is important to you, let it be known. The worst thing, at this point, is to remain silent.

My gut also reacted to the money questions, but let your voice be heard.
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Just filled in the form
Not so bad as being claimed by some
Its a value for money and quality of park(s) and service
Also about expensive private reserves and SANparks
I have followed a collared leopard and cheetah with chips to be tracked
And i expect value for money at R2500
And want my guides to be extreme knowledgeable

The bit for me a bit silly were the questions about seeing which animals are important
They are all extremely important to me
But do understand that some visitors only go for the predators
And yes, some questions are also about questions raised on the forum
quality of guides, accommodation etc.

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Just completed the questionnaire and agree asking the Rand value for each animal is really silly.
And Tsessebe is spelt incorrectly all the way through!

But, it's a questionnaire and I've completed way worse ones than this one.

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I have read complaints by people who photograph animals that are collared. It ruins the photograph for them. I have seen elephant, sable and buffalo and other animals collared in Kruger, obviously for research purposes. The lions in Addo were collared when released. If I take a photo of a collared animal it does not bug me. Maybe all they want to know, is what percentage of visitors do mind and what do not mind, seeing and photographing collared animals. I cannot imagine professional photographers feel the same as I do about it

And if I visit Kruger and prefer to camp in my little Game tent; but will pay a hefty sum for a game drive to photograph a rare antelope for my coffee table book that I am making, and just need one more pic to complete it, then accommodation becomes relevant. What is the relationship between the type of accommodation clients prefer and the type of game viewing experience they would pay for.
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We see many many times people asking if they should pay the extra and go to the expensive neighbouring reserves where they know they will see the Big 5 in one day, or take a chance that they will not see any of the Big 5 and visit KNP instead. I

I just completed the survey....must agree the Rand part(how much Rand I would like to pay to see a certain animal) is a bit strange ....the Guide/Game Viewing part is good(always important to have an experienced and enthusiastic Guide, who does more than just show you the animals) .....for the rest it's not so bad.

Could be useful when used in the right way.

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..........and that is what is wrong with some visitors!! "Ruins the photo for THEM!!
me, me and me!!
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I totally agree with you, I don't mind it if we come across an animal with a collar...................I am still thrilled to see it and if I can, I take a piccie.

Research and conservation must take precedence over visitors pleasure........(though I'm not saying a visit to the parks shouldn't be pleasurable).........it is just a matter of getting our priorities right!!

We saw a beautiful collared lioness near Croc Bridge last year, and I have some wonderful photos of her.

Can't wait to get back and find some more.

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About to fill in the questionnaire.

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Just filled in the questionnaire
I just felt asking what price the various animals are worth to spot them was stoopid
I just put R0 I felt it was putting a price on the animals head .. I go to the parks to see the parks and relax and if I see an animal that is even better.


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I have completed the questionnaire, although not every part of it,and some not exactly as requested. For example how do you rank 14 animals into 10 spaces? Most rank questions in questionnaires would give you 14 spaces. This is my take for what it's worth:

Question#14, regarding allocating money to things like accommodation, gastronomy , game drives and so on, I didn't find relevant. I do what I can within my budget for as long as I can afford and I do it differently - no game drives, no gastronomy and no expensive accommodation. I can only assume they are after a different sector with these questions. Reading further enhanced this assumption.

Section B, C and D suggest to me that there are ideas being kicked around about collaring animals and getting people to pay lots of money to look for ( eyeball to eyeball possibly ) and follow them. It sounds as though Kruger and/or other parks may become increasingly more like the private parks in the future except on a giant scale which is a bit scary.

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i don't think it is necessarily a stupid questionnaire. If the target market answer it, it could be useful to SANParks. There are certain things embedded there which they want to know . . . .

Regarding collared animals. I have never objected to animals collared for research or protection. However, collaring animals (a stressful process no matter what the spinners say) to make more money out of them does not sound attractive. Also it will reduce the number of those exciting sightings when no-one else turns up.

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There is an article in this months "Country Life" magazine entitled "Sanparks Challenge". It is worth a read. It gives a sense of some of the current challenges. After reading it I did feel very gratified at the lengths being taken to reduce the human footprint.

I have also been sent a survey from Pretoria University on booking methods used and prefered. Market research is a vital way of planning and with computer technology, so much simpler and cost effective.

[Sprocky]

I am glad that they started this dumb questionnaire!

Maybe they will now see what their loyal customers want.

[harrys]

Exactly what I thought Sprocky , maybe their eyes will open and they'll see the bigger picture . Lets hope that will be the case

[iNdlovu]

Loyal customers....maybe, but some of the comments above are worrying. Why, when answering a questionnaire do people not complete it in its entirety. If you don't or won't pay to see an animal answer with a '0' , A nothing answer would be taken as 'I don't care either way' .

However, the structure of entire questionnaire is still loading the dice in my opinion

[Lisbeth]

Sanparks do not care about their "Loyal Customers" they want new and different customers and above all they want them to spend on guided tours and expensive accommodation.

[Sprocky]

Asking how much you are prepared to pay for something, sounds like bribery and/or corruption to me!

[dup]

Jurassicpark

[Flutterby]

It's the most ridiculous survey I've seen in a long time!!

[Lisbeth]

and the others weren't kidding!

[ceruleanwildfire]

Sensless survey indeed. Sat there answering most of the questions; Not important at all. I don't care if I see a specific animal or not. And it would definately ruin it for me if the challenge of searching for the animal myself was taken out of the equation. Typical modern way of thinking, have everything given to you on a silver platter.

And they wonder why they have this empty feeling and lack of accomplishment.