History
Game farming in south africa
South Africa currently has more than 10,000 private game farms. Together they manage an area of ore than 20 million hectares, or almost 5 times the area of he Netherlands. That is three times as many hectares of land as the government of South Africa currently manages in its national and provincial parks together. Even if you look at the number of animals running on these game farms, the private game keepers together have twice as many animals under their management as walking around in all national parks in South Africa! With these animals, South African gamefarmers produce 120,000 to 150,000 tons of high-quality and pure organic meat every year.
Gamefarming is therefore a serious economic factor in South Africa. The origins of this sector go back to the first initiatives to extract the South African bushland for livestock farming and arable farming. Initially, the native animal species were seen as food competitors for their own cattle and therefore treated as such. Until that with the pioneers also the first coarse hunters from the Northern hemisphere entered the African continent and the African wildlife thus gained value. In order to meet the rapidly increasing demand from that moment onwards, cattle farmers switched from keeping cattle to keeping the native animal species. This is also true because cattle were hardly resistant to the harsh and harsh African conditions, while the local wildlife is excellent because of decades of evolution.
Gamefarming has since grown to its current proportions. However, the objectives and motivation within this sector have clearly changed. Similarly to Lentegeur Wildlife.
trophy hunting
The trophy hunt on the African continent is not without controversy. Many people see the images that come out of international hunters who proudly pose with all kinds of exotic animals shot by them. Animals we only know in the western world from zoos and nature documentaries on TV. As a result, such images are also heavily loaded emotionally for many people. After all, we have a totally different emotion and relationship with these animals with those animals that we ourselves encounter daily in our own area. Animals that we ourselves hunt with full conviction and with all the right intentions as part of the sustainable management and use of the resources that nature produces here. Trophy hunting in South Africa is no different for the Afrikaners. But is not the only one!
It is of greater importance to look at how we can bring the full potential of all South African wildlife into the economic chain. Not just the "value" of that 20% of the population that is interesting for trophy hunters. By making the sector more sustainable, adopting new insights and shifting accents, the innovators in South Africa want to transform the hunting sector in South Africa into a more holistic approach in which wildlife as a whole is seen and as an inseparable part of South Africa. Africa. But also as something that as a whole has an intrinsic value that is many times greater than that of those pair of trophy animals running on a game farm. By approaching the whole in a way that is also called the "Wildlife Economy" approach in South Africa, the sector creates new opportunities for itself and space to look at other, more sustainable forms of exploitation of this natural source of wealth.
current situation
Trophy hunting is still an important part of the total South African wildlife sector. With estimates ranging from $ 132 mln to even $ 426 mln. USD, the trophy hunt generates significant revenue for South Africa anyway. However, there is also increasing awareness that it is not possible to keep the focus solely on the trophy hunt. The traditional trophy hunt is mainly aimed at offering the most beautiful trophies to foreign hunters. Male animals that are at the top of their existence and genetically the best quality. However, by removing these from the herd, genetically lesser bulls remain for reproduction or reproduction rests on the shoulders of a limited number of breeding bulls, increasing the chance of genetic degeneration.
On the other hand, the combined gamefarmers have also ensured that numerous animal species that were either on the verge of extinction due to lack of management (for example the male fur, blesbok and black wildebeest) or in quality were greatly reduced (such as the sable antelope) are now again numerous and have also increased significantly in quality. Quality not only in terms of trophy, but also in terms of fertility, overall health and average weights and condition of both male and female animals. It is no coincidence that there is currently more wildlife around Africa than ever before in the past 100 years!
The goal of game keepers and of leaders such as Lentegeur Wildlife in particular, is changing. More and more the focus is on the sustainable use of the entire population of wildlife. By moving away from a focus on trophy size and weight and looking at alternative opportunities to generate income, jobs and thus also prosperity, the focus in the management of the wildlife also shifts to objectives that are aimed at the long term. On a more holistic approach in which utilisation has a place when it is completed in a sustainable way. Or as you say in South Africa; utilisation full value chain.
Sustainable use
The previously mentioned Wildlife Economy, on which sustainable use is based, is an economy in which wildlife is seen as a natural source of wealth and used for the benefit of the inhabitants of the country. In a country where the traditional economy is under pressure due to political, climatic and social conditions, new economic impulses are desperately needed. The basis is to then look at the natural resources or resources that a country has and to see how they are used in such a way that they can contribute to the prosperity of the entire population, also in the long term. Wildlife Economy does no different.
By dealing with wildlife on the basis of long-term management and utilization plans, the game fans of today have found a mode that not only benefits the animals themselves but also the sector as a whole. Eventually this will also offer more opportunities and opportunities for the entire population of South Africa.
Management and use go hand in hand in this approach. African wildlife as a whole is a potential source of wealth. Wealth in a financial sense but also as a source of very healthy, organic and tasty food. Managing and using African wildlife in this way is so endlessly more than just looking at a trophy. It stands for food production, for tourism, trade and a range of activities that generate business and therefore direct or indirect income for the inhabitants of South Africa. Just think about the activities that take place on the gamefarm itself ... The breeding, selling and moving of animals. The production of food supplements, water systems, fencing and other supplies. The work for veterinarians who all have their suppliers again.
But also the interaction with the animals offers a lot of possibilities. Consider, for example, ecotourism, food production, education and education, combating poaching, all the accommodation needed in the sector, taxidermy and all the business that comes out of it. And yes, think also of trophy hunting!
The challenge lies with finding a balance in these activities that is sustainable and that provides them with an income that enables them to sustain these activities for generations.