Petitioning "The Government of the Republic of South Africa: Deny future entry to Melissa Bachman."
For those who care, sign! http://www.change.org/petitions/the-government-of-the-republic-of-south-africa-deny-future-entry-to-melissa-bachman
Would hit
1 day ago
CV_M14
How many of you have been to South Africa and talked to Game Wardens and Licensed Wildlife Guides? I have, in Zimbabwe.
In the National Parks, no hunting is allowed. Only visual tourism. Some firms pay the government to get a "concession" which allows them to erect a tourist camp within the park boundaries, and tourists can view spectacular wildlife. Some firms purchase a "concession" on the outside of the National Park, but adjacent to the park boundary. They then purchase hunting tags from the government that allows a certain number of animals to be hunted. The government only issues a certain number of tags for each species each year, based on population numbers.
So, each Hunting Lodge Concession, located outside of, but adjacent to National Parks, allows strictly controlled hunting. Ok. You may not agree with hunting. However, these Hunting Concessions have a second, even more important duty: to kill poachers. In many countries, Game Wardens are allowed to shoot poachers on site. However, Game Wardens are poorly equipped (no money) and often only have a uniform and a gun. No truck. No radio or phone. It is nearly impossible for them to catch poachers in the act. The Hunting Lodges help them. They patrol the borders of the park, and if there are poachers, the Hunting Lodges will kill them.
What's the difference between the Hunting Lodges and the Poachers? Well, the Lodges sell a tag to a US Hunter for $10,000 - $50,000 depending on the species the hunter wants to attempt to hunt (remember, there is no guarantee they will bag an animal). Part of this money goes to the government for anti-poaching work. Hunting lodges will legally take the one animal allowed. Poachers take everything, all the time. In September 2013, a poaching ring put cyanide into a salt lick - kiling 90 elephants, dozens of antelope, kudu, and predators like lions, hyaena, jackals, hawks and vultures - which ate the dead elephants. That's the difference.
You may not agree with the concept of hunting. That's fine. We're all different. But don't attack a person for paying to do a legally accepted activity, that does actually help more wildlife in the long view.
By the way, one of my guides in Zimbabwe said this: "Well, now Botswana has made all hunting illegal. That means that there will be no one hunting the poachers. They will get in and decimate the animals in the National Parks. There will be so little wildlife left that the eco-tourism will completely bottom out -- and they won't have any money to try to combat poachers."
