2009/05/11
THREE white rhino have been shot in a State park on the Wild Coast – and three more are set to die as part of a legal but highly controversial government-sanctioned hunt.
Outrage and condemnation have followed a decision by the Eastern Cape Parks Board (ECPB) to hunt six white rhino in the Dwesa Nature Reserve because the animals are considered alien species.
Although white rhino are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the hunt was authorised by the parks board and started on April 28.
The move has angered community members and conservationists who argued for the animals’ relocation.
Jim Feely, a nature conservationist from Maclear, was appalled by the decision and said that since about 1893, no hunting was ever legally authorised at the Dwesa reserve. It is “totally repugnant”, he said.
But Dr Dave Balfour, head of scientific services at the parks board, said hunting the rhino was a last resort after capturing the animals had been discounted because of their unusual behaviour and the difficult terrain.
“Typically, white rhino are grazers and can be found out in the grassy slopes much of the time,” he said. “In Dwesa, however ... the rhino spend considerably more time in the forest than is normal and this would make capture operations very difficult.”
Conservationist Dr Ian Player said he would have preferred for them to be relocated because “while it’s right what they say about it being difficult to capture them, it’s not impossible.”
Balfour said three rhino had been shot to date, but the Saturday Dispatch learnt that one animal had only been wounded and has since eluded the hunters.
Parks board chairman Andrew Muir said the reserve has been closed and teams were on the ground tracking the animal.
Muir said the rhino, of which there are thought to be 10 in total, were originally introduced to the area some 25 years ago.
“We can’t put black rhino, which are indigenous to the area, into the park because it’s too small and the black and white rhino will fight,” he said.
Muir said claims that the decision to allow hunting was for financial reasons were unfounded. T he amount generated was “comparable to what we would have been able to sell them for.”
A 2008/2009 annual report of the parks board shows that the Dwesa rhino were initially earmarked for sale.
James Williamson, of Kubusie Safaris in Stutterheim, said hunters could pay between R200000 and R580000 to shoot a rhino, depending on the size of the horn.
The Dispatch established that the outfitter handling the hunt is Willem Botha the owner and operator of African Scent Safaris. Botha declined to comment. - By ANDREW STONE and ASA SOKOPO
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