NATIONAL NEWS - While hunting is allowed under lockdown level four, it is the inter-provincial and international travel bans, and the fact that hunters may not overnight at hunting lodges, that have halted the gears in the industry.
Fred Camphor, CEO of the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association confirmed that hunting is regarded as an essential service during level four of the lockdown.
The detailed directives and regulations regarding what is allowed and what not, are however, yet to be released, he said.
“The principles are clear. We are still constrained to stay at home and we still may not travel across provincial borders. The logical conclusion is that we should be able to hunt within our home province, subject to clear regulations, but these restrictions have not yet been spelled out.”
JP Morton, the Chairperson of the Bosveld Hunters and Game Conservation Association says hunters are allowed to hunt during level four of the lockdown, but they are not allowed to sleep over or travel across provincial borders. “They also must have permission to hunt from the farmer on whose farm they hunt.”
Business at Ivy Safaris has come to a complete standstill, says co-owner Lisa Ivy. “Not only have our overseas clients all cancelled for the year but most of our local clients who would now be able to come hunting for the day if they resided in Limpopo, come from Gauteng and heaven only knows when they will be allowed to move around freely.”
She explains their lodge has been empty since October, when the last hunting season ended, and had been looking forward to welcome visitors to the new season in the first week of April. She too, says the fact that hunters may not overnight, poses a problem: “It is virtually impossible to hunt what you want to hunt, skin it and cool it down enough to transport it all in a few hours in time to travel back home and drop the meat off at the local butcher before he closes for the day.”
Another reason for annual hunting is culling. Ivy explains that, due to a less than desirable rain season last year, they need to cull at least 150 animals for their field to recover.
“We will probably have to do most of the culling ourselves and sell the carcasses as meat to a local abattoir as we will not have enough hunters to do it. We are losing 100% of our normal income as there is none.”
She foresees a slow season, even next year, as many overseas visitors might be hesitant to travel given how the world responded to Covid-19.
In the meantime, the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) has criticised the EMS Foundation’s recent call on government departments to ban the slaughtering and consumption of game, as well as its export in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, describing it is as opportunistic and irresponsible in a time during which the game and hunting industry can play an enormous role in alleviating hunger in vulnerable communities.
“We’ve been exporting meat to other countries for years without any incidents related to zoological diseases. To compare the game industry in South Africa with the markets and circumstances where Covid-19 broke out, is ludicrous,” says Francois Rossouw, CEO of SAAI.
“There is very close contact between animals at the Chinese markets, while wild animals in South Africa roam free. We don’t eat exotic species in South Africa, our abattoirs are highly regulated and the inspection of meat complies with strict standards.”
In a statement, SAAI says the game industry makes a significant contribution to South Africa’s economy through job creation and tourism. Furthermore, the game industry utilises South Africa’s most marginalised land to generate foreign currency and produce some of the healthiest eco and climate friendly organic red meat.
“SAAI encourages government to prioritise hunting as an essential industry, due to the huge contribution it can make to alleviate hunger on ground level during this time. Helping Hand’s Helpjag project is an excellent example. Since 2018, 30 000kg of game meat were donated to this initiative, which supplies balanced meals to 8 000 destitute children.”
The initiative is currently working in cooperation with other organisations in the industry to bring about the responsible re-opening of the hunting industry.
