Posting photos of dead wild animals could be illegal soon

[BRICKBURN]

FB does it again...

 

[leslie hetrick]

for those killer veggies I would be carrying a .460 wby and put the kids up a big tree.

 

[jeff]

A bunch of carrots can require fast shooting in case of a charge, not for the faint of heart!!

 

[IdaRam]

A penny for your thoughts...

British government says, “you may not purchase a firearm made in Great Britain and post a photo on social media of it with a dead animal.”

One step futher...
“If you are not from GB, we will report you to your govt and let them know you broke a British firearms law”.

Switching gears a little...
What if I take a photo of my leopard mount (taxidermy) and post it to social media and it causes a shit storm? Have I broken the rules by posting a Namibian Leopard to social media without permission from MET or NAPHA? This would obviously be several years after the legal hunt has taken place.

I hope Namibia is carefully considering and discussing at great length this many faceted issue. Once again, I want nothing but success and prosperity for Namibia and Conservation Hunting. Hasty words and actions from people in positions of power and authority, without proper and wise consideration and deliberation could send things straight into the crapper!
In my opinion.

 

[Pheroze]

What if I take a photo of my leopard mount (taxidermy) and post it to social media and it causes a shit storm? Have I broken the rules by posting a Namibian Leopard to social media without permission from MET or NAPHA? This would obviously be several years after the legal hunt has taken place.

I think the Namibian restriction is only for the trophy kill pictures. And, honestly, it really is the intent is to remove the basis for negative publicity. I am sure the Namibian government is under a ton of pressure internationally. Can you imagine the war chest devoted to convincing Namibia to ban hunting? What a trophy that would be for HSUS. Yet they stand tall for us. I believe their decision has to be accorded a degree of deference.

The other thing I would say is that you cannot export that American sense of personal encroachment on freedoms. The interpretation of it is not shared in a lot of other liberal democratic societies where the line is drawn differently. I am not saying the America concept of personal autonomy is wrong. But, it is not shared to the same extent by some other societies that function very well. So interpret the law from the perspective of the society it is promulgated from. They too will draw a line in the sand on constitutional freedoms, but ot may not where some Americans will.

In the end we all can decide for ourselves whether we choose to continue to support Namibia in any event of their laws. I personally dont mind the restriction. I hate laws like this, I think they are silly. But, I dont see it as a reason to shun the country and drive them towards the pocket books of the antihunting lobby.

 

[leslie hetrick]

sooner or later they will have to fish or cut bait, by the same token Namibia can,t export their laws onto others in other countries, but that's what they want to do with the new law they want. their are so many other countries that will welcome hunters with open arms that know the value to be had by allowing legal hunting. with out the bull shit factor.

 

[BWH]

FB does it again...

View attachment 237648

That’s f’n awesome!!!! I can’t promise I won’t steal the idea!!!

 

[IdaRam]

The other thing I would say is that you cannot export that American sense of personal encroachment on freedoms. The interpretation of it is not shared in a lot of other liberal democratic societies where the line is drawn differently. I am not saying the America concept of personal autonomy is wrong. But, it is not shared to the same extent by some other societies that function very well. So interpret the law from the perspective of the society it is promulgated from. They too will draw a line in the sand on constitutional freedoms, but ot may not where some Americans will.

@Pheroze , thank you for the insightful post. You have helped identify and contrast the differences in viewpoint that I think are a critical component of this discussion.
I will fling this out there for consideration. American hunters make up a significant portion of the sportsmen and women who travel to Namibia every year to hunt. Americans WILL measure this with their own yardstick, collectively and individually, just as others will measure this against their own cultural standards. As it should be. And as NAMIBIA seems to be. But if I am marketing a “product” to folks in another country with a culture distinctly different than my own, I believe I would give great and careful consideration to how they might react to the imposition of MY standards and beliefs on them.
Put a little differently, Namibia can DO whatever they wish. They must also live with the consequences. Unfortunately, all the rest of us Sportsmen and women will live with those consequences as well, like it or not. Agree with it or not.
It is not correct to say I do not support Namibia or do not stand with them. I do 100%! (and I know you did not say that) But I feel like now is the time to voice dissent and try to point out things that might not even occur to Mr. Shifeta or Danene van der Westhuizen, simply because they do not look at this through the eyes of an American hunter, sportsman and conservationist. Not a criticism of them in the least, they simply are not American.
And before I get hate mail for being an arrogant American, I fully recognize there are plenty of other countries with a rich sporting heritage and an abundance of sportsmen and women. I am simply making the observation that Americans make up a meaningful percentage of international sportsmen.

 

[Pheroze]

@Pheroze , thank you for the insightful post. You have helped identify and contrast the differences in viewpoint that I think are a critical component of this discussion.
I will fling this out there for consideration. American hunters make up a significant portion of the sportsmen and women who travel to Namibia every year to hunt. Americans WILL measure this with their own yardstick, collectively and individually, just as others will measure this against their own cultural standards. As it should be. And as NAMIBIA seems to be. But if I am marketing a “product” to folks in another country with a culture distinctly different than my own, I believe I would give great and careful consideration to how they might react to the imposition of MY standards and beliefs on them.
Put a little differently, Namibia can DO whatever they wish. They must also live with the consequences. Unfortunately, all the rest of us Sportsmen and women will live with those consequences as well, like it or not. Agree with it or not.
It is not correct to say I do not support Namibia or do not stand with them. I do 100%! (and I know you did not say that) But I feel like now is the time to voice dissent and try to point out things that might not even occur to Mr. Shifeta or Danene van der Westhuizen, simply because they do not look at this through the eyes of an American hunter, sportsman and conservationist. Not a criticism of them in the least, they simply are not American.
And before I get hate mail for being an arrogant American, I fully recognize there are plenty of other countries with a rich sporting heritage and an abundance of sportsmen and women. I am simply making the observation that Americans make up a meaningful percentage of international sportsmen.

Namibia needs to reconsider their marketing strategy when balancing the interests they have.

 

[enysse]

A lot of interesting views...….

My work place moved to banning any hunting websites a few months back. It really pissed me off that they changed their security settings so I could not view AH on my break.....but it was their freedom to take my favorite website away.

Namibia is making a choice, honestly I think they are just going to piss hunters off. I honestly don't think they are going to slow the anti-hunters down. Their numbers and power are just growing everyday, we are not going to slow them down. I have stated this opinion a long time ago, that eventually us hunters will be regulated to death. Expenses to go hunting are eventually go to price the common human being out and then hunting will really decline.

 

[NAPHA]

UPDATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA RESTRICTIONS ANNOUNCED MY MINISTER SHIFETA

Dear members, stakeholders and affiliates of NAPHA,

We are happy to announce that we have returned from a very constructive and positive meeting with the Minister and his office. Other stakeholders that attended were NACSO, NNF and WRN.

A summary of all the concerns and questions communicated to us by our members was presented to the Minister; as well as NAPHA’s proposal as to a way forward.

Herewith we can confirm that the implementation of the condition on the restriction of the posting of images of trophy animals on social media made by the Minister is for now on hold, until such time that the industry has reverted back with proposed guidelines for ethical marketing practices for the hunting community.

NAPHA has taken the lead in this initiative and has shared the below letter with the Minister with proposals which the Minister welcomed and acknowledged in good spirit. All stakeholders have agreed to work together and expand on these suggestions. We have also provided the Minister with a draft pamphlet with guidelines for social media advertising and posts. We suggested that this pamphlet be distributed at the airport, Air Namibia, NTB, MET and NAPHA offices, and would also accompany all hunting permits issued.

A meeting was proposed and will be sponsored by WRN at Heja Lodge on 27 July 2018, where everyone who wants to contribute constructive and pro-active input is welcome. It was agreed that NAPHA will take the lead in this and will advise the public about the final outcome.

We hope that everyone involved in hunting will act as ambassadors for our lovely country and abide by the final consensus decision.


Letter to the Honourable Minister Shifeta

Dear Honourable Minister Shifeta,

RE: Social Media Advertising & Proposed Guidelines

Thank you very much for allowing us to address this issue with you.

From the outset, we want to assure you that NAPHA and its members appreciate your endeavour to uphold and safeguard hunting in Namibia as part of the sustainable use of renewable natural resources. We want to stress that we will always support the ministry in its decisions to uphold the hunting collective.

Although we appreciate the immense pressure that you and your office experience daily, with unfounded attacks by so many uninformed voices against legal and responsible hunting, as well as the increasing human wildlife conflict issues, we have to bring a number of concerns to your attention to be discussed tomorrow.

Proposed way forward for your kind attention and approval:

It is a fact that irresponsible and insensitive marketing is destructive to the hunting community and therefor our wildlife and habitat. As duly noted by various members through their correspondence the last couple of days, ethics and morals are crucial to our hunting community, but the opinions and level of this varies greatly from person to person.

NAPHA’s Code of Conduct reads as follows: To promote hunting as a recognised and sustainable form of the utilisation of renewable natural resources.

We will never succumb to pressure from anyone to stop advertising our services, wildlife and country by way of legal hunting. But we should reprimand anyone for doing so in a way that destructs it. (irresponsible and insensitive marketing). The point is not whether a certain photo is moral or ethical, because again this can be argued. What is important to note is that we are exposing ourselves, hunting, and our country to a world of people. Some of them are at the outset against it, some have no opinion to it, and some welcome it. We have to be aware of all of these sectors, take responsibility for how we expose ourselves, and be absolutely and without a doubt convinced that by doing so, we are securing our industry for current and future generations.

NAPHA’s Code of Conduct clearly states our intent to secure the industry for current and future generations, as well as to ensure sound and ethical social, business, hunting and environmental practices at all times. With the age of social media, no clear guidelines regarding this type of marketing has been provided by either the ministry or NAPHA as of yet, and therefor we have to respect each persons view on what responsible marketing is.

NAPHA would herewith like to propose three suggestions to the Minister to be implemented instead of a total ban of trophy pictures on Social Media:

1. A clearly defined guideline structure for responsible social media marketing. This will ensure a risk-free freedom of advertising by hunting clients as well as hunting operators. It will also ensure that the Ministry has clear rules and guidelines with which it will be able to prosecute and or penalise any Namibian Outfitter for transgressions against these guidelines. A foreword by the Minister is imperative. Furthermore NAPHA will endeavour to be sponsored to have these guidelines printed and distributed at the International Airport, the MET offices (for possible distribution together with all permits issued), the NAPHA offices, and also on a distribution platform through social media and other International affiliated partners of NAPHA, for at least one year.

2. A generic well-worded, professional write-up that can serve as a response on any criticism on hunting on social media platforms to be used by any hunter, outfitter, the MET or NAPHA which will at the same time provide us all with an opportunity to enlighten such critics on our role as conservationists through hunting, the benefits of hunting, the role the MET plays, and our commitment to the Namibian Constitution. Species specific write-ups would be very effective in achieving this as well.

3. Because of the ever changing and evolving portals through the internet, it is imperative that all Professional Hunters, Master Hunting Guides and Hunting Guides stay up to date with these developments. Through the MET’s proposed annual ethics course, a point system where certain credits are provided to individuals attending these courses should be implemented. This point system could serve as a penalising system as well, where points could be deducted by the MET by any transgressions by PH’s, MHG’s and HG’s. If a certain amount of points is not obtained or held, such PH, MHG or HG cannot register for the year. Such systems already apply for many Professionals in Namibia. Training courses required to attend by PH’s, MHG’s and HG’s in ethics, social media, shot placement, trophy handling, etc., would ensure the development and renewal within our collective of the Namibian Professional Hunters, in order for them to be a cut above the rest.

I hope that this communication will find your office with a favourable solution and with a clear objective from NAPHA. We would like to again stress the importance of a good working relation between NAPHA and your office. NAPHA is at your disposal with help and advice, but cannot do so if proper communication and involvement is not shared in sufficient time.

We also want to take this opportunity to remind you of the importance of a statutory body (which NAPHA is very willing to be involved in) where all PH’s, MHG’s and HG’s should be registered and controlled through. NAPHA works diligently to enhance and maintain, by effective management, an organisational infrastructure that can serve professional hunting members, clients and other interest groups. Unfortunately so many who are not members of NAPHA gain through all of this, but at the same time criticise and defame NAPHA blatantly in public and on various public platforms. We would appreciate your support in this as well.

Our Association has reached great achievements and international respect through our unity and principles, but also by the example that we as fellow Namibians and proud NAPHA members have always set for the world as well as the rest of our fellow Namibians to be proud of.

Yours truly,
Danene van der Westhuyzen

 

[Royal27]

Welcome @NAPHA !

Your membership here is long overdue. I greatly look forward to both your contributions here and the outcome of the meeting.

 

[Pheroze]

Welcome @NAPHA . Great idea distributing the pamphlet with permits issued by the government.

 

[Fred Gunner]

Outstanding @NAPHA and Thank you for your reply to my earlier Question.

"Hi Fred, the communication you are quoting were for NAPHA members only, but yes, according to current legislation you would. We will communicate with the Minister in due course. Please be patient until we have communicated final decisions. Thanks"

It appears for now we could share any hunting photos that NAPHA members use for advertising without violating the terms and conditions of Namibian Hunting permits.

 

[NamStay]

Professional Hunters Insist Their Members Not Guilty Of Tasteless Advertising On Social Media

By Linda Machinga

The Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) expressed its dismay with the Minister of Environment and Tourism’s hastily announced ban on the publishing of pictures of trophy animals on social media saying that it will have unintended consequences for the industry as a whole.

The publishing and advertising ban will affect the income of Professional Hunters, as well as the substantial revenues conservancies derive from trophy hunting.

According to a statement issued by the association last week, it had previously warned its members on various occasions against inconsiderate advertising on social media and the internet which can possibly lead to outbursts by animal rights groups, harming hunting in general as a consequence. The association said.

“Whilst we are cognizant of the fact that there are many hunters and outfitters that adhere to responsible marketing, a number of individuals still do not comply with the sensible use of photos of trophies hunted, even though ample warnings have been communicated,” the association stated.

Supporting the minister’s decision in a round-about way, the association said outbursts by animal conservation groups left the minister with no other option but to ban social media advertising by the hunting industry.

“Namibia can not afford any opposition to hunting, as it is dependent on responsible hunting for continued conservation through sustainable use,” the professional hunters said.

Following similar earlier outbursts by the anti-hunting lobby, the ministry started enforcing permit conditions last year, which amongst others, prohibit the marketing of trophy hunting on the internet.

“At that time, NAPHA made [the ministry] aware of the fact that advertising is critical for such businesses, and that [it] should not purposefully hinder any company from being able to advertise its services, accommodations, and experience to the clients,” stated the professional hunters.

However, the Namibia Professional Hunting Association advised its members to support the ministry in this sensitive issue. The association indicated that a meeting was due with the ministry to establish clear guidelines for acceptable advertising.

NAPHA President, Ms Danene van der Westhuyzen said their members provide the highest standard of professional service to international hunting guests. “They are expected to hunt strictly in accordance with the ethical principles as stipulated in the NAPHA Hunting Code. The professional hunter is encouraged to act responsibly to nature, wildlife and the local population.”

“We are hunters and conservationists and we hunt, unashamedly!” she concluded.



Source: https://economist.com.na/36647/envi...lty-of-tasteless-advertising-on-social-media/

 

[Pheroze]

Gotta love that last quote

 

[IdaRam]

Welcome @NAPHA ! Thank you for posting the above Update.
This is quite a bumpy path you are navigating and I wish you, NAPHA, Mr. Shifeta and MET the best good fortune as you work through the challenges ahead.
I believe your continued and regular participation with the members here can be a positive thing and possibly even be an asset going forward.
All the Best

 

[Deleted member 11879]

Just curious; how would they know the photo was taken in Namibia? Not that I’m on Facebook or any other social media platforms.

 

[postoak]

I wondered about that too, but I imagine that anyone who is posting an animal photo is going to want to post where they went to get it. Of course, under a Leftist government, if they were really trying to "make a statement" they would go through your emails to see where you had been.

 

[Longwalker]

This has been a very interesting discussion. In my personal case, the proposed photo ban is of no concern. I have a hunt booked for 2019 in one of the Namibian conservancies in the Caprivi strip. I was informed a few months ago, before booking the hunt that it was a conservation hunt for the experience only, and all parts of the animal remain with the local community. So even if I take a trophy sized buffalo, elephant or antelope no part of it may accompany me home. No ivory, no horns, no skins. Photos will be my only "trophy" - but I wasn't planning on posting photos on social media anyway. I do take photos of dead animals. I appreciate photos of dead animals if accompanied by a story of the hunt. ( I would miss the photos shared / posted on this site, if it came to that!) But my friends and family who are non-hunters don't appreciate seeing dead animal pictures. I'm not going to covert most of them. However, I often post stories and photos of my hunts in Facebook, and get many positive comments from hunters and non-hunters alike. My hunting posts generally focus on the experience, the scenery, and companions, and lately contain very few dead animal pictures. I give away a lot of game meat, carefully prepared to make a delicious gift to non-hunters. It's amazing how many people truly appreciate that. I wish I could share some my African game meat with friends and family. I will try to eat some of each animal I kill on my Namibian safari, and I am content that the rest will be fully used and appreciated by the local people who ultimately are the ones living with and tolerating the presence of big game animals that I can hunt and kill for them. If banning photos of dead Namibian animals posted to social media actually helps me and others keep hunting, I'm OK with that.