Rhino Hunting Auction Travesty

A simple message, "I have something to tell you..." on you tube has really opened a can of worms on the subject of the onging slaughter of our country's rhino.

I find it unbelievable that that at a time when our rhino population is under threat, from poaching that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is allowing an anonymous KwaZulu-Natal businessman, the right to hunt and kill a white rhino for the princely sum of R960,000.

One of their spokesmen claims that this forms part of ongoing plans to control the number of white rhinos. Who do they think they are fooling. The rhinos can be relocated to any number of reserves around the country. It is estimated that 443 rhinos were poached in 2011, so there are many areas where the population can be replenished. Would it not be better to preserve them, rather than to kill them to satisfy the ego of some rich dude.

Another claim is that the money generated from the auction will be used for conservation. Can anyone explain to me how the killing of any endangered species contributes to conservation. It is no wonder that this action has sparked widespread outrage around the country.

The statement by one of their spokesmen that, “We have not broken any laws as the law fully allows us to have hunts like this,” is also part of the spin. The fact that it may be legal does not make it right.

The fact is that rhinos are endangered and we should be preserving them rather than killing them.

To read more on this subject go to "S. Africa rhino hunting auction sparks controversy."

Tuesdays Teees #18 - End of an era

The Baakens River Valley is a nature reserve that bisects a large part of the city and is home to a variety of wildlife and indigenous vegetation. Over the years alien invaders have also made the valley their home threatening the local fauna and flora. Though many of these are impressive trees, they suck up a lot of water and destroy the indigenous vegetation in their immediate vicinity.  

The blue gum invaders have been systematically ring-barked and most have now died off and will soon be replaced by the local vegetation.

These blue gum branches look like gnarled fingers reaching for the sky in a last desperate attempt at survival.

J for Jackal

I do not have any photos of jackals but took this picture about three years ago when Sue and I were travelling in the karoo between Sutherland and Calvinia, on our way to see the flowers of Namaqualand. Jackal pelts strung up on the fence next to the road.



This was a very grim reminder of the ongoing battle between sheep farmers and jackals. It is also a testimony to the remarkable survival skills of the black backed jackal. In spite of constant persecution and jackal proof fencing they survive against all odds.

For those of you who have been reading my blogs, you may have noticed by now that I am a keen consevationist. At one time in my life I was a hunter and would be the first in line to seek and destroy vermin. At the age of 19 two incidents changed that.

The first was when I was about to shoot a buck that was causing damage in our lands. As I was about to squeeze the trigger something made me put on the safety catch and declare, "I can't do this". I have never looked back.

The second was an incident with a pair of black backed jackals. Any farmer will tell you they are vermin and will go to great lengths to destroy them. Jackals have been persecuted to such an extent that from being diurnal animals they have become nocturnal. My parents had an irrigation farm and at one time grew the most delicious watermelons. Believe it or not, the jackals loved water melons. They had an uncanny knack of finding the best ones, scratching them open with their claws and eating the inside.

Farmers are very possesive of their land, livestock and crops - and not being an exception to the rule I went out one night with a torch and a rifle, "to bag me a jackal".

Imagine the scene. It is pitch dark. There is no moon and I walk as quietly as I can to the lands. When I get there I turn the torch on and quickly pick up the gleaming eyes of a pair of jackals. As I lift the rifle to my shoulder they disappear. No problem, I am patient, I have all night. So I sit down and wait. After about ten minutes I turn the torch on again and there not fifty metres from me are the two jackals, sitting on their haunches watching me.

They did not wait around too long and quickly melted into the night.

Something about the situation amused me. I had just seen a new side to jackals that I liked. The next morning I told my parents that we had plenty of watermelons and that I was sure we could spare a few for the jackals.