Clean up hunting industry appeals conservation and animal welfare groups

2011/08/09 01:12:44 AM
Elise Tempelhof / Beeld South Africa

Conservation and animal welfare groups responded furiously on claims from the Wildlife Ranchers South Africa that their industry promotes conservation through utilisation.

WRSA is of the opinion that a moratorium on the hunting of rhinos called for to protect the species is irresponsible.
Louise Joubert, founder trustee of the SanWild Wildlife Trust yesterday said that it is a cause for great concern that WRSA is opposed to a moratorium.

WRSA said on Friday that they regard the call by Mr. Gareth Morgan, DA representative and spokesperson for environmental affairs, on Minister Edna Molewa to institute a moratorium on the legal hunting of rhinos as irresponsible. Mr. Jacques Malan, executive chairman of WRSA said that a moratorium will lead to the decline in rhino numbers and will result in increased poaching. The financial values of rhinos are the only guarantee for sustainable utilisation he said.

Joubert that issued a press release on behalf of SanWild and the Wildlife Action Group said that WRSA is not concerned about bio-diversity conservation and breed and farm wild animals for one reason only and that is short-term financial gain “There is little or no consideration for bio-diversity conservation and protection of our natural heritage protection” she said.

Joubert said it is essential that an immediate moratorium is put in place and that a full audit is done on the exact number of rhinos in national, provincial parks and on private land. The natural mortality rate, population growth, number of rhinos hunted legally and the numbers of rhinos killed by poachers are all relevant and should be taken into consideration while applying the precautionary principle to determine a hunting quota for sustainable hunting of the species to ensure that rhinos are not pushed back to the brink of extinction.
The trophy hunting industry needs a major cleanup Joubert said.

Translated from Afrikaans