Agri Kultuur August / Agustus 2016 | Page 41

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra#/media/File:Zebra_Botswana_edit02.jpg in utilising our wildlife heritage,” Verdoorn said. Variations in coat colours in game occur in low frequencies in the wild and are caused by recessive genes that result in e.g. black impala, golden wildebeest or white springbok. The reason for the low numbers in the wild is that these animals are usually not well adapted to their environment and are eliminated through natural selection processes. However, commercial game breeders selectively breed these animals to enhance and manipulate the desired traits for commercial gain. Prices of these purposely-bred animals are exceptionally high turning wildlife into a financial commodity. To protect their expensive investments, breeders put these animals in small camps with very tight security. Some of the undesired consequences of intensive breeding include:  fragmentation of habitats and wildlife systems  decrease in the genetic integrity of indigenous wildlife populations  reduce animals’ natural ability to adapt to environmental changes associated with climate change animal welfare concerns  increase persecution of predators because of the threat to breeding stock  disinvestment in extensive wildlife areas which impact on the contribution that game farmers make to national conservation targets.