Despite efforts by Western animal rights extremist NGOs to ban international hunting, South African hunting communities’ spirit and aspirations to engage in international hunting will never die.
Idah Baloyi, chairperson of the Makuya Traditional Council, tells anyone who cares to listen that when international hunting takes place her community always benefits from it.
She said that the benefits include essential funds for food, clothing, and education.
Located near the elephant-overpopulated and wildlife-rich Kruger National Park, the Makuya Community hunts for animals under scientifically approved sustainable wildlife hunting off-take.
This involves harvesting an insignificant percentage of animals which doesn’t negatively impact the hunted wildlife’s population growth.
Baloyi rejects claims that hunting threatens wildlife, highlighting their commitment to conserving nature for future generations.
The Makuya Community owns the Makuya Conservancy, which it co-manages with the government.
“When we hunt, we don’t cut [destroy] trees and grass so that our young sisters who are coming after us will be able to know the elephant, will be able to know the importance of seeing impala,” she said.
Her stance rubbishes animal rights extremist NGOs’ lies that international hunting threatens wildlife populations.
Another community, near the iconic Kruger National Park, Mukuleke, also expressed the need to engage in international hunting.
So too, did the Northern Cape Province-based Khomani San Community, which believes international hunting can support its conservation and socioeconomic needs.
A Khomani San representative Brain Miennies noted that hunting could provide crucial resources, like clean drinking water, for their community.
The Khomani San Community owns 25 000 hectares in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
The huntable wildlife includes lion, giraffe, kudu, blue wildebeest, zebra, eland, and springbok, making it a potential hunting destination.
*The writer of this article is Emmanuel Koro, a Johannesburg-based independent international award-winning environmental journalist who writes extensively on environmental and developmental issues in Africa. The views expressed by Emmanuel Koro, are not necessarily those of The Bulrushes
