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Kai-Uwe Denker – Introduction of NAPHA Conservationist of the Year Award 2014
Madam of Ceremonies
Honourable Minister Herunga
Invited Guests
Dear Members
Ladies and Gentlemen – all protocol observed
We now come to a very important matter in the itinerary of NAPHA’s AGM – honouring a person who has made an outstanding contribution to Namibia’s conservation efforts. The NAPHA Executive Committee does not take this decision lightly.
Now how does one actually have to understand conservation in practical terms?
It is well known that declining habitats for wild animals is one of the major concerns in all conservation issues today.
Often the only remaining truly intact habitats nowadays are game reserves or national parks, most of which were proclaimed long ago. So who were those farsighted individuals and conservationists who proclaimed game reserves and national parks? Who have been the early game rangers who made these visionary projects a success and whom we have to thank that large tracts of unspoiled habitats remain today?
There were no animal rightists and hardly any anti hunters then, who nowadays claim that they are the only true conservationists. So we have to look amongst other categories of men. Names that immediately come to mind are Hermann von Wissman – hunter, who initiated what nowadays is the famous Selous Game Reserve.
Constantine Ionides – hunter, first warden of the Selous.
Major Stevenson Hamilton – Hunter, first chief game warden of famous Kruger National Park in South Africa and his right hand man on the ground, Harry Wolhuter – hunter.
These men played major roles as they, being hunters, brought along certain qualities which make for an effective conservationist: Knowledge of natural connotations, dedication, courage, preparedness to live and work in remote locations and endure hardships. Nothing has changed in that regard.
They were highly respected as hunter-conservationist. Unfortunately this is not the case any longer today.
In our time, when trying to identify a person for our conservationist
of the year award, we perhaps can differentiate two very distinct categories to search in. Still hunters feature prominently in both categories.
On the one side there are the scientists, the planners, the co-ordinators, the decision makers. They sit in large conservation organisations, at higher levels of Ministries, and in other institutions. They regularly gather at large forums and conferences. I would like use this opportunity to, for example, point out the African Wildlife Consultative Forum, organised by the Safari Club International Foundation – hunters, which we from NAPHA’s side attend regularly; a hugely important forum for the organising of which we would like to thank SCI.
On the other side we have the people on the ground. People who have to see to it that conservation strategies are implemented. People who through their presence and actions on the ground prevent abuse and actually protect animals in remote regions.
Our conservationist of the year 2014 is to be found in this second category.
Many people have not the faintest idea, what it would mean for conservation in remote regions should hunting really be closed.
What it would mean for last fractions of remote unspoiled wilderness, if hunters would no longer patrol these regions.
I briefly would like to relate a true story that happened this year in a remote area of Namibia’s northwest where our black rhino roam. A hunting party operating in this area noticed a helicopter flying over the area, landing to refill and again flying over an area frequented by rhinos. The Communal Conservancy in the area was not informed about any helicopter operating in their area, as should have been the case.
Had it not been for the hunting party nobody would have known about the helicopter circling over rhino country. The hunters thus informed a MET ranger to investigate the matter.
A few days later the hunting party noticed a suspicious vehicle off-road in a remote area. The hunters approached the Nissan bakkie parked concealed in a little gully. Two men immediately jumped into the car and the Nissan bakkie made off at high speed. The hunters followed in hot pursuit and in passing the spot where the suspicious car had been standing, noticed the remains of a poached gemsbok.
At breakneck speed the hunters followed the Nissan bakkie, so much so that the hunting client started lamenting that he would not like to be endangered. What now?
As the hunters knew about the qualities of the MET game ranger in their area, they turned tail and raced back until they reached a spot where they had cellphone reception and phoned the ranger, well familiar with all the localities in his area, then returned to the poaching scene.
30 Minutes later the MET game ranger was on the scene, one of the hunters jumped into the game rangers Toyota and off they went following the tracks the poachers had left in the sandy soil. They where able to, by investigating along the route the poachers had taken, to identify the car as that of a notorious poacher, who is arrested by now.
This, more than anything else, is what we need in a poaching crisis like the one we face right now. Presence and dedicated, hardworking, fearless conservationists on the ground.
NAPHA’s conservationist of the year 2014 is one such dedicated, hardworking, fearless individual.
I take great pleasure in announcing Victor Katanga, that MET game ranger the hunters phoned in the episodes I have just related, as NAPHA conservationist of the year 2014.
Victor is a Ministry of Environment and Tourism ranger based in Uis and responsible for the Erongo region.
Katanga has come a long way from Shambyu, in Kavango East, where he grew up as a farmer’s son.
As a boy, Katanga had a passion for wildlife.
He remembers seeing eland in the fields near his home and wondering about them. But there is more to conservation than protecting wildlife. It is about people and their
relationship to natural resources. When an opportunity arose to apply for a ranger position with the MET in 2004, he jumped at it.
First there was an induction course, and later a law enforcement course, which in those days took six weeks. Good training is vital for MET rangers and others fighting wildlife crime.
Nothing is dearer to Victor Katanga’s heart than catching wildlife criminals. He passionately cares about “Scene of crime protocol”.
Last year he did a six week course in scene of crime protocol, and now he trains MET rangers and conservancy game guards.
Much of his work is done on foot, especially at full moon, when he parks the Cruiser, sets up a tent, and walks the veld to look for suspicious activity, carrying an automatic rifle. Being on the ground, and seen, is a big deterrent, especially if you have a reputation for catching poachers. Katanga relies on informers, which he has to: Kunene and Erongo are vast areas. Catching a poacher at work is pretty unlikely – unless, of course, there are hunters on the ground to help -, so following leads is the way to catch them.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is active on private farms as well as communal areas and parks. Katanga has the keys to several farms that are rhino custodians. When he is around, he says, poaching decreases. Katanga‘s phone is on 24 hours 7 days a week. And he is near his pone, 24 hours 7 days a week which is even more important.
Victor Katanga
Madam of Ceremonies
Honourable Minister Herunga
Invited Guests
Dear Members
Ladies and Gentlemen – all protocol observed
We now come to a very important matter in the itinerary of NAPHA’s AGM – honouring a person who has made an outstanding contribution to Namibia’s conservation efforts. The NAPHA Executive Committee does not take this decision lightly.
Now how does one actually have to understand conservation in practical terms?
It is well known that declining habitats for wild animals is one of the major concerns in all conservation issues today.
Often the only remaining truly intact habitats nowadays are game reserves or national parks, most of which were proclaimed long ago. So who were those farsighted individuals and conservationists who proclaimed game reserves and national parks? Who have been the early game rangers who made these visionary projects a success and whom we have to thank that large tracts of unspoiled habitats remain today?
There were no animal rightists and hardly any anti hunters then, who nowadays claim that they are the only true conservationists. So we have to look amongst other categories of men. Names that immediately come to mind are Hermann von Wissman – hunter, who initiated what nowadays is the famous Selous Game Reserve.
Constantine Ionides – hunter, first warden of the Selous.
Major Stevenson Hamilton – Hunter, first chief game warden of famous Kruger National Park in South Africa and his right hand man on the ground, Harry Wolhuter – hunter.
These men played major roles as they, being hunters, brought along certain qualities which make for an effective conservationist: Knowledge of natural connotations, dedication, courage, preparedness to live and work in remote locations and endure hardships. Nothing has changed in that regard.
They were highly respected as hunter-conservationist. Unfortunately this is not the case any longer today.
In our time, when trying to identify a person for our conservationist
of the year award, we perhaps can differentiate two very distinct categories to search in. Still hunters feature prominently in both categories.
On the one side there are the scientists, the planners, the co-ordinators, the decision makers. They sit in large conservation organisations, at higher levels of Ministries, and in other institutions. They regularly gather at large forums and conferences. I would like use this opportunity to, for example, point out the African Wildlife Consultative Forum, organised by the Safari Club International Foundation – hunters, which we from NAPHA’s side attend regularly; a hugely important forum for the organising of which we would like to thank SCI.
On the other side we have the people on the ground. People who have to see to it that conservation strategies are implemented. People who through their presence and actions on the ground prevent abuse and actually protect animals in remote regions.
Our conservationist of the year 2014 is to be found in this second category.
Many people have not the faintest idea, what it would mean for conservation in remote regions should hunting really be closed.
What it would mean for last fractions of remote unspoiled wilderness, if hunters would no longer patrol these regions.
I briefly would like to relate a true story that happened this year in a remote area of Namibia’s northwest where our black rhino roam. A hunting party operating in this area noticed a helicopter flying over the area, landing to refill and again flying over an area frequented by rhinos. The Communal Conservancy in the area was not informed about any helicopter operating in their area, as should have been the case.
Had it not been for the hunting party nobody would have known about the helicopter circling over rhino country. The hunters thus informed a MET ranger to investigate the matter.
A few days later the hunting party noticed a suspicious vehicle off-road in a remote area. The hunters approached the Nissan bakkie parked concealed in a little gully. Two men immediately jumped into the car and the Nissan bakkie made off at high speed. The hunters followed in hot pursuit and in passing the spot where the suspicious car had been standing, noticed the remains of a poached gemsbok.
At breakneck speed the hunters followed the Nissan bakkie, so much so that the hunting client started lamenting that he would not like to be endangered. What now?
As the hunters knew about the qualities of the MET game ranger in their area, they turned tail and raced back until they reached a spot where they had cellphone reception and phoned the ranger, well familiar with all the localities in his area, then returned to the poaching scene.
30 Minutes later the MET game ranger was on the scene, one of the hunters jumped into the game rangers Toyota and off they went following the tracks the poachers had left in the sandy soil. They where able to, by investigating along the route the poachers had taken, to identify the car as that of a notorious poacher, who is arrested by now.
This, more than anything else, is what we need in a poaching crisis like the one we face right now. Presence and dedicated, hardworking, fearless conservationists on the ground.
NAPHA’s conservationist of the year 2014 is one such dedicated, hardworking, fearless individual.
I take great pleasure in announcing Victor Katanga, that MET game ranger the hunters phoned in the episodes I have just related, as NAPHA conservationist of the year 2014.
Victor is a Ministry of Environment and Tourism ranger based in Uis and responsible for the Erongo region.
Katanga has come a long way from Shambyu, in Kavango East, where he grew up as a farmer’s son.
As a boy, Katanga had a passion for wildlife.
He remembers seeing eland in the fields near his home and wondering about them. But there is more to conservation than protecting wildlife. It is about people and their
relationship to natural resources. When an opportunity arose to apply for a ranger position with the MET in 2004, he jumped at it.
First there was an induction course, and later a law enforcement course, which in those days took six weeks. Good training is vital for MET rangers and others fighting wildlife crime.
Nothing is dearer to Victor Katanga’s heart than catching wildlife criminals. He passionately cares about “Scene of crime protocol”.
Last year he did a six week course in scene of crime protocol, and now he trains MET rangers and conservancy game guards.
Much of his work is done on foot, especially at full moon, when he parks the Cruiser, sets up a tent, and walks the veld to look for suspicious activity, carrying an automatic rifle. Being on the ground, and seen, is a big deterrent, especially if you have a reputation for catching poachers. Katanga relies on informers, which he has to: Kunene and Erongo are vast areas. Catching a poacher at work is pretty unlikely – unless, of course, there are hunters on the ground to help -, so following leads is the way to catch them.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is active on private farms as well as communal areas and parks. Katanga has the keys to several farms that are rhino custodians. When he is around, he says, poaching decreases. Katanga‘s phone is on 24 hours 7 days a week. And he is near his pone, 24 hours 7 days a week which is even more important.
Victor Katanga
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