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In a press release dated 2 April 2001 SANParks took a clear stand for sustainable utilisation of wildlife. The reaction was provoked by strong opposition from the animals rights group Ethical Conservation Network and articles by Alex Duval Smith in the Johannesburg Star of 27 March and in the Pretoria News of 28 March quoting statements attributed to Karen Trendler, Chair of the SANParks Animal Use and Care Committee that appear to make judgments on the proposed sale of 21 white rhino captured in Kruger Park to the private sector. The committee rejected these quotations "as either misrepresentations or {were} quoted entirely out of context. They do not represent conclusions or recommendations of the SANParks Animal Use and Care Committee." The press release of SANParks refers in particular to the concerns expressed by the Ethical Conservation Network that the calves may be separated from their mothers, that the animals may be hunted and also regarding the conservation management reasons for removing rhinos from the Kruger National Park, given the fact that there is no evidence of environmental damage caused by rhino. SANParks highlights in the press release (full text published on the SANParks internet site) that game sales hold considerable value for conservation in general and gives recognition to the vital contribution of the private sector in wildlife conservation. The anti-use group’s request to cancel the sale of was therefore rejected outright. SANParks statement read further that "Land made available to wildlife by the private sector is of great value in building up the numbers of rare and valuable game species. SANParks has a long history of supplying game to private landowners. In consultation with IUCN Species Survival Commission Specialist Groups, we have actively followed a policy of encouraging the private sector to obtain rare species such as the Cape mountain zebra. We are mindful of the fact that the Cape mountain zebra and black wildebeest would have gone extinct had private land owners not taken steps to protect them. White rhinos are not so abundant that they are causing habitat damage in the Kruger National Park. They are nevertheless sufficiently numerous to make them available for sale. The Kruger Park white rhino population is presently about 3000 - 3500 strong, making it the largest population in the world. The average annual population growth is between 8 - 9 %." SANParks operates according to the principle that conservation assets that are in adequate supply may be sold to buy conservation assets in short supply. Revenue from the sale of rhinos is strictly regulated so that it is used directly for the conservation of biodiversity (mainly land purchase), and none of it contributes to the general operating budget of SANParks. Contrary to assertions in the press it could not be used to reduce the SANParks overdraft. For this specific sale however, SANParks will require buyers to undertake that mothers and calves will not be separated until the calves are fully weaned and independent (at least 20 months), and that the animals are sold for breeding, and will not be hunted for at least a year after purchase. In requiring these undertakings from buyers, SANParks is concerned only to eliminate the sale of excessively young rhino and the possibility of so-called "canned" or "put-and-take" hunting. Of importance in SANParks’ statement is the fact that both the hunting and the live sale of white rhinos are recognized as fully legal activities, subject to regulation by the South African provincial conservation agencies in terms of CITES. "SANParks respects the right of game owners to engage in hunting or to trade in live animals in accordance with the law." The absurd allegations made by fanatical and self proclaimed "animal
lovers" were rejected outright by the South African National Parks
authorities and the public received information about the facts without delay.
The role of the game rancher in conservation was properly recognised – and the
regulation to have a hunting moratorium of 12 months on any rhino from this sale
is more than sensible. After all the hunting organisations in South Africa –
with the SCI African Chapter in the forefront – have requested for a long time
already that "put and take" or "canned shooting" practises
be outlawed. SANParks and its management is to be congratulated to have reacted
quickly, decisively and to the point in this case. Sustainable utilisation is
the right way to conserve our natural treasures!
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