Rhino Hunt Auction A Valid Approach

[alexm]

Submitted by NamibianSun on Mon, 2016-06-06 01:00

Amid fierce protest and controversy on social media platforms and elsewhere, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism last week announced that three critically endangered black rhinos would be auctioned to the highest bidder for trophy hunting.

The ministry has earned millions of dollars over the past few years from big-game hunters setting their sight on the rare species, amid growing concern by animal activists and wildlife groups locally and internationally.
Conservationist Angus Middleton, executive director at the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), said despite the controversy, hunting the three males makes economic and ecological sense.
In response to the outcry, Middleton said the world would be a poorer place “if we lacked emotions and there is validity to people being sad about three old rhino being shot, but there is also much validity to those who have a more pragmatic approach.”

He said the “rise of internet vigilantism” is unacceptable, especially if it undermines the government’s “perfectly valid choice to pursue this route [that] is mandated by the constitution”.
He added that the fact that “it is being done in an open and transparent manner” should be applauded, in addition to the fact that the offering is an opportunity for local hunting operators to benefit, as well as rural communities.

Big-game hunters
The advertisement stated that the three post-reproductive males are on offer to Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) registered companies linked to professionally registered big-game hunters, and can be hunted during the current hunting season ending November 2016.
The advertisement furthermore announced a 20% or 10% discount for companies with at least 20% ownership by formerly disadvantaged Namibians or those employing formerly disadvantaged professional hunters.

Written financial offers can be made before the end of June, the ministry advised.
Funds collected will be channelled to the Game Products Trust Fund Account, which reroutes the money to conservation projects in the country, according to the ministry.
Shortly after the advertisement appeared, social media platforms erupted with an outcry against the planned hunts, which is likely to increase as the bids are accepted and the hunts get under way.
Middleton explained that with a decrease of government spending on environmental issues, due to the fact that the majority of funds are earmarked to provide Namibians with basic services, including education, health, food security and more, the ministry’s choice to pursue much-needed income through initiatives such as black rhino trophy hunts should be supported.

Middleton pointed out that concurrent to decreased spending on conservation, the massive escalation of rhino poaching has put enormous strain on the ministry, which increases the need for required resources.
Middleton furthermore noted that males who are beyond their reproductive age are a “menace to other rhino … so ecologically they are non-productive at best and in the case of such a rare species potentially harmful.”

Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha) CEO Tanja Dahl said that old rhino bulls become more aggressive the older they get and territorial fights often result in the death of young males in their reproductive phase.

In addition, Middleton said all the funds will make their way back to the Game Products Trust fund, “which goes directly back to conservation.”
Middleton said in addition to the fact that the quota for the trophy hunts is sanctioned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), sustainable use of natural resources is enshrined in the constitution and is part of Namibia’s “highly regarded conservation model”.
He added that Namibians largely support this choice, especially those in rural communities who host the majority of wildlife populations.
According to WWF, global black rhino numbers currently stand at approximately 5 000, with 98% of the total population found in just four countries, namely South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
JANA-MARI SMITH

 

[CAustin]

Wonder how much anti press will hit the auction and then actual hunt this year?

 

[Clayton]

Wonder how much anti press will hit the auction and then actual hunt this year?

They'll be on this like flies...

 

[Kerneels]

Namibia bids for trophy hunters to kill 3 endangered black rhino species

 

[BRICKBURN]

Namibia is a leader in conservation, hands down.

I hope some Outfitters can put together some bids and find some hunters who are willing to participate in this hunt.

 

[Kerneels]

Namibia calls on bids from trophy hunters
AFRICA
Saturday 4 June 2016 - 12:20am

NAMIBIA - The Namibian government on Friday called for bids from trophy hunters to kill three endangered black rhinos,despite fierce global criticism over previous auctions.

An American hunter last year paid $350,000 (R5 million) to shoot one of the prehistoric beasts with a high-powered rifle, with government officials on hand to ensure he killed the correct animal.

Since 2012, Namibia has sold licences each year to kill individual rhinos, saying the money is essential to fund conservation projects and anti-poaching protection.

It says the only rhinos selected for the hunts are old individuals that no longer breed and that pose a threat to younger rhinos.

On Friday, the environment ministry advertised three black rhinos available for the hunting season which ends in November.

The advertisement offered discounts to Namibian-owned companies or those employing a Namibian−registered professional hunter.

Environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda defended the auction, telling AFP: "We feel we are doing the right thing.

"As a country we have our own legislation and we are not doing anything contrary to any law. As a matter of fact, our constitution allows us to empower our own people,” he said.

"We are hoping to get enough money from this auction but we also do not want it to be controversial like in the past,” he said.

In neighbouring South Africa, nearly 1,200 rhinos were killed by poachers last year in a slaughter driven by demand for powdered rhino horn in some Asian countries, where it is seen as medicinal.

 

[Kerneels]

Namibia opens bidding process for three black rhinos
Monday 6 June 2016 12:21

The offer comes a year after the outrage generated by the May 2015 killing of a male black rhino by a controversial American trophy hunter.(SABC)

The Namibian government has invited trophy hunters to make cash offers to shoot down three black rhinos in the 2016 hunting season.

The hunting season started on at the beginning of February and will run though to 30 November 2016.

The offer comes a year after outrage was generated by the May 2015 killing of a male black rhino by controversial American trophy hunter Cory Knowlton, who paid US$350,000 (more than R5 million), to put down the animal despite spirited opposition from across the globe.

In an advert in Namibia's national media, placed earlier this month by the country's Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the offers were opened to all companies registered with the Namibian Tourism Board. They will be limited to one rhino each.

In addition, the advert offered a 20 percent discount in hunting fees to all companies that are at least 20 percent owned by people classified as "previously disadvantaged" locals.

A 10 percent discount was also offered to companies that are owned by previously disadvantaged Namibians who have attained the "professional hunter" level.

Namibian Minister of Environment and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said all offers should be made in Namibian dollars although the winners would be allowed to partner with foreign clients in the hunt as long as they are registered with Namibian operators.

The advert said the bidding process would close at 1PM at the end of this month while those who would like to witness the adjudication process were given up to 15 June to make written expressions of interest to the relevant ministry.

Shifeta said the government would continue to ignore global calls for an end to the trophy hunting of rhinos, which are a critically endangered species, because ending the practice would harm local conservation initiatives.

Early this year, the Namibian government ordered all government officials and minister to use all platforms to oppose calls for an end to the trophy hunting of rhinos.

Shifeta said all proceeds from the hunting business would be re-invested in the conservation of the country's depleted rhino population.