black rhino hunting permit for $375K

[rick6point5]

Lets hope that what is shot it is really a non breeding cantankerous old beast! and that the money will be spent entirely on the well being and protection of this species, however having been on this planet for a number of years now, been to SA, read, spoken and listened to those in this business i have my doubts that what is paid will actually filter down the right channels and be used effectively to curb poaching or produce any tangible benefit. IMO this is just another gate left open through which those with big money to spend will be welcomed.

 

[JAYB]

Personally I find it a bit worrying that elderly, non breeding cantankerous types are being selected for culling, hope my missus doesn't see this .

John

 

[kuwinda]

Having had to watch the workings of African governments and civil service from a very short range for a decade I'd be astonished is much, or any, of the money actually ends up going to its intended end. From personal experience most of the guys on the ground actually doing anti-poaching are on a pittance and having come across them in remote bush areas are often very grateful of any food or help you can give them.

In contrast also having experienced the top brass of SCI at close quarters I am very doubtful indeed of the motives behind this - frankly they are a weird bunch with very selfish motives indeed - and the money to purchase anything their twisted ideals desire. One lady, the wife of the then President, enthused to me over "bagging" a porcupine. Sorry I just dont get it.

Namibia's black rhino population is not large - I do not believe the 1700 figure quoted - it is restricted to Etosha and a few other smaller reserves and a very few in the vastness of Koakoland in the north. Having been there twice in the last two years I'd be very surprised if any single non-breeding male could be identified in an area where it could actually be hunted - i.e. not a national park. All a bit suspicious - but not at all surprising in the African context.

As a rider to this I would witness a friend of mine who worked for (I think) WWF, or its then incarnation, in Zambia quite a long time ago. He was trying to get a hunting permit passed for a very old and sick black rhino in an area adjacent North Luangwa. There was as usual the endless African red tape and it was taking a while - the rhino died before the permit was issued.

 

[Tamus]

Having had to watch the workings of African governments and civil service from a very short range for a decade I'd be astonished is much, or any, of the money actually ends up going to its intended end. From personal experience most of the guys on the ground actually doing anti-poaching are on a pittance and having come across them in remote bush areas are often very grateful of any food or help you can give them.

In contrast also having experienced the top brass of SCI at close quarters I am very doubtful indeed of the motives behind this - frankly they are a weird bunch with very selfish motives indeed - and the money to purchase anything their twisted ideals desire. One lady, the wife of the then President, enthused to me over "bagging" a porcupine. Sorry I just dont get it.

Namibia's black rhino population is not large - I do not believe the 1700 figure quoted - it is restricted to Etosha and a few other smaller reserves and a very few in the vastness of Koakoland in the north. Having been there twice in the last two years I'd be very surprised if any single non-breeding male could be identified in an area where it could actually be hunted - i.e. not a national park. All a bit suspicious - but not at all surprising in the African context.

As a rider to this I would witness a friend of mine who worked for (I think) WWF, or its then incarnation, in Zambia quite a long time ago. He was trying to get a hunting permit passed for a very old and sick black rhino in an area adjacent North Luangwa. There was as usual the endless African red tape and it was taking a while - the rhino died before the permit was issued.

Well that's my bubble burst... Shocked!

How come you keep going back? ...

If what you say is true... this might interest you... then again it does sound like a well dodgy organisation... http://www.accnamibia.org/index.php?module=formicula

 

[Safari Hunter]

South Africa's take on this, interesting read.

350,000 reasons to kill a black rhino | Daily Maverick

Cheers
Adrian

 

[kuwinda]

Well that's my bubble burst... Shocked!

How come you keep going back? ...

If what you say is true... this might interest you... then again it does sound like a well dodgy organisation... http://www.accnamibia.org/index.php?module=formicula

I hunt because I like hunting - not because I want to pile up lots of "trophies" for others to ogle - though of course I can appreciate a great head as much as anyone. I really don't get the competitive element - particularly in the African context because in almost no instance will the quality of the trophy be down to the trigger-puller. I guess its just another form of penis envy - so to speak. Wonder if that applies particularly to rich Americans - I'm tending to think so. Each of my trophies (and yes I have a few) are reminders of the hunts - I have no desire to pile up loads of "I have bigger/better/more than you" skulls on the wall. Each to their own I dare say.

Africa (and hunting it) is something you either get, or not. I do and will go back to travel and hunt when I can afford it.

Anti-corruption ?? A real joke. Its just window dressing for the aid community - it keeps them in a job (and their wifes in the Gymkhana Club and their kids at Winchester) but is otherwise meaningless. Last year I was in Juba, South Sudan. In the airport arrivals hall there was a poster to the effect "Corruption will not be tolerated here". This is in the country (?) which has just descended to total anarchy over the distribution of the distribution of the spoils of oil revenues - all done on a blatantly tribal basis and depending on patronage - and where on the way out you are hit for a $100 departure tax (no receipt) - or you don't go.

AWA - Africa Wins Again.

 

[Tamus]

I hunt because I like hunting - not because I want to pile up lots of "trophies" for others to ogle - though of course I can appreciate a great head as much as anyone. I really don't get the competitive element - particularly in the African context because in almost no instance will the quality of the trophy be down to the trigger-puller. I guess its just another form of penis envy - so to speak. Wonder if that applies particularly to rich Americans - I'm tending to think so. Each of my trophies (and yes I have a few) are reminders of the hunts - I have no desire to pile up loads of "I have bigger/better/more than you" skulls on the wall. Each to their own I dare say.

Africa (and hunting it) is something you either get, or not. I do and will go back to travel and hunt when I can afford it.

Anti-corruption ?? A real joke. Its just window dressing for the aid community - it keeps them in a job (and their wifes in the Gymkhana Club and their kids at Winchester) but is otherwise meaningless. Last year I was in Juba, South Sudan. In the airport arrivals hall there was a poster to the effect "Corruption will not be tolerated here". This is in the country (?) which has just descended to total anarchy over the distribution of the distribution of the spoils of oil revenues - all done on a blatantly tribal basis and depending on patronage - and where on the way out you are hit for a $100 departure tax (no receipt) - or you don't go.

AWA - Africa Wins Again.

Well, since I've known you for ... what is it now? ... 41 years!!!

I'll take it that one was for the gallery...

Loved your "not because I want to pile up lots of trophies" one, though ... Yeah... sure. PMSL.

I've got precisely 1 trophy (lying on top of a bookcase somewhere) ... the first buck I shot after recovering from that fractured vertebrae, when I thought I might never shoot again.. and yet I've killed four foxes, two magpies and two corbies so far this week. Bea actually pegged one of the foxes though.

Africa's just too damned hot and too nasty for a nice lad like me.

 

[BruinO]

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/hunter-defends-permit-to-kill-black-rhino/

 

[Tamus]

32 of the lower 48 still have the death penalty on the statutes ..... for humans! ... including Texas.

All this fuss over one nuisance rhino... Puh leeze!

It's yet another instance of the "have-nots" trying to stop the "haves"... just because they think they can.

 

[MJ75]

I've been following this story for a while. I don't have a problem with a non breeding animal being selected if the funds raised genuinely do help try to protect the long term survival of the species.

I'd prefer to see the animal rights nutters dig deep into their own pockets, buy out these permits and then pay for their end of life care so that everyone has the chance to go and see them rather than a hunter shooting one. But I live in the real world, hunting revenues do pay for animal conservation.

Incidentally this is nothing new. Namibia have been issueing permits for black rhino since 2012. The only reason the media appear to have taken an interest is because this is the first auction to take place outside Namibia, and the cost realised has broken the previous record, though it fell well short of some estimates. I guess the uber wealthy yanks bidding on this hunt at the SCI Dallas auction make it a worthwhile news story.

This is what really ****es me off though :-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25781746

Sadly we can't hunt the Asians peddling products made from rhino horn, they're the real threat to phino populations these days.

Maybe the SD forum could consider raising funds for a suitable wildlife conservation project at some point in the future. I'd happily contribute to a worthwhile cause with no need to pull the trigger on anything.

 

[kuwinda]

I've been following this story for a while. I don't have a problem with a non breeding animal being selected if the funds raised genuinely do help try to protect the long term survival of the species.

I'd prefer to see the animal rights nutters dig deep into their own pockets, buy out these permits and then pay for their end of life care so that everyone has the chance to go and see them rather than a hunter shooting one. But I live in the real world, hunting revenues do pay for animal conservation.

Incidentally this is nothing new. Namibia have been issueing permits for black rhino since 2012. The only reason the media appear to have taken an interest is because this is the first auction to take place outside Namibia, and the cost realised has broken the previous record, though it fell well short of some estimates. I guess the uber wealthy yanks bidding on this hunt at the SCI Dallas auction make it a worthwhile news story.

This is what really ****es me off though :-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25781746

Sadly we can't hunt the Asians peddling products made from rhino horn, they're the real threat to phino populations these days.

Maybe the SD forum could consider raising funds for a suitable wildlife conservation project at some point in the future. I'd happily contribute to a worthwhile cause with no need to pull the trigger on anything.

You're right - cut off the demand and the effect on rhino numbers would be immediate and lasting.

I think its ironic that the worlds second/third/whatever (depending on who you believe) richest nation is one that appears to believe implacably in witchcraft.

The whole situation surrounding the poaching and export of both rhino horn and ivory in Africa is one rotten through with corruption to the highest (the VERY highest) levels - this has been proven time and time again. Nothing happens.

I've often thought that intercepting one of these shipments and installing several hundred kilos of C4 linked to the container door might at least have the effect of bringing it to world attention - too much?

 

[JabaliHunter]

In contrast also having experienced the top brass of SCI at close quarters I am very doubtful indeed of the motives behind this - frankly they are a weird bunch with very selfish motives indeed - and the money to purchase anything their twisted ideals desire. One lady, the wife of the then President, enthused to me over "bagging" a porcupine. Sorry I just dont get it.

Lucky it was not SCI then! CIC Praises Initiative for the Conservation of Rhinos | CIC

THere is a parallel thread on this here

 

[kuwinda]

Lucky it was not SCI then! CIC Praises Initiative for the Conservation of Rhinos | CIC

THere is a parallel thread on this here

Aye.............. Dallas Safari Club...................that'll be a whole different set of rich American merchant bankers then............?

 

[JabaliHunter]

Aye.............. Dallas Safari Club...................that'll be a whole different set of rich American merchant bankers then............?

Given that it was started by a lot of people who share your low opinion of SCI, then I think you'll find that yes it is very different!