" In an area that can sustainably carry 40,000 [ elephants ] max , there are way too many ." — PH Mike Birch
prosperous life and was once king of its domain , with a tower of its own . The younger and stronger bulls had pushed it out and beat it in the fight for breeding dominance . The bull ' s days were numbered due to age and predation .
It took about 12 man-hours to skin and process the giraffe . Nothing goes to waste in Africa , and all the meat was removed from the bones . Knowing my permit dollars were funding conservation and a strong warden presence was empowering . Sustainable management and utilization of renewable resources became obvious . They have a saying in Africa , " If it pays , it stays ."
Emotional Issues and Western Bias Typical Western civilization does not have a realistic view of African culture , tradition , or wildlife management and use . The emotion and outrage can run high with the African species , especially the elephant , giraffe and lion — does anyone remember Cecil ?
Disney Syndrome is real , and television has misdirected emotion into an equation that negatively impacts hunting and valued proteins in developing countries . The emotional rollercoaster and media hype force management — management that benefits all species — to take a back seat , and all wildlife suffers as a result .
The learning curve in Africa was steep and an eye-opener . According to the wardens and management team I worked with , anti-hunters are creating an environmental nightmare . For example , Botswana has 130,000 to 200,000 elephants , depending on who you listen to , which is shocking and far greater than what the land can support . The habitat for the elephants and all species that require shade , trees or browse will be severely impacted if left unchecked .
" Elephants will increase by 6 percent per year ," Birch pointed out . " In an area that can sustainably carry 40,000 max , there are way too many ."
The protected elephants will have confrontations with people who are ill-equipped to deal with the big animals . The irony is that elephant hunting could bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars , help sustain the species and its habitat , and reduce human conflict in a region where residents could use the extra protein and fewer face-offs . Estimates are that Botswana needs to harvest 80,000 elephants now to prevent long-term negative impacts . Elephants can move back and forth to water , but small mammals and species like blue duiker and bushbucks die off .
" I often ask why any elephant or giraffe has more rights than an impala or steenbok ," Birch said .
How is it possible for the population to get so far out of control ? You do not hear the anti-hunters saying that some species are endangered in some countries and overpopulated in others . It might make sense to stop hunting
Too many elephants can negatively impact other wildlife species .
Ecosystems are delicate in Africa , and hunting helps maintain balance .
some populations and increase hunting others . Instead , governments bow to pressure and close hunting , sometimes even in areas where it is desperately needed .
Cape buffalo hunts typically run anywhere from $ 8,000 to beyond $ 20,000 . An old bull can generate significant dollars , and the value needs to be recognized and harnessed . When drought hit Kruger National Park , wardens were forced to shoot more than 4,000 buffalo to ensure their survival and maintain habitat for other species . Instead of generating funds , the actions cost huge management dollars . It is a shame that the buffalo ' s value could not be used . The culled buffalo would have been worth millions of dollars if they could have been hunted .
The larger critters seem to stir up emotion . Worse , they draw the anti-hunters who often target successful hunters . The untold story is that hunting is conservation . Part of the conservation story is the management of all species . When emotion gets in the way , science and management take a backseat , and all wildlife suffers . Elephants , lions and giraffes are prime examples . Social media and emotions have robbed conservation of big money where hunting is closed but needs to occur .
FALL 2023 21