Thousands of hunters seeking to match wits with Africa's biggest beasts head to South Africa every year for big game hunting, a multi-million-dollar industry that has yet to fall prey to the anti-hunting lobby.

With its large variety of wildlife coupled with vast landscapes, South Africa draws some 9500 foreign hunters per year who want the "whole outdoor experience," said Gary Davies, the chief executive of the Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa.

"It's not just about shooting the animal," said Davies, whose organisation provides guides to foreign hunters.

"The species we have here cannot be matched anywhere... we have 29 different species of antelope, and the 'Big Five' is available for hunting," added Davies, referring to the famed buffalos, elephants, leopards, lions and rhinoceroses.

"The buffalo is for many hunters the ultimate challenge," said Johan Cornelius, of Pretoria-based Umzingeli Nyathi Hunting Safaris, which means "hunters of buffalo" in Zulu. "And the big five is generally a draw card," said Cornelius.

Major forex earner
Big game hunting is big business in South Africa, where 9000 privately-owned ranches employing 70 000 people cater to foreign hunters, generating R1-billion annually for the economy.

According to Davies the hunting industry is growing steadily, with more hunters coming from the United States than any other country.

But why does an army colonel, a doctor or a top executive leave the United States, Germany or France to come to hunt in South Africa?

"Some people might live in high-rise buildings, but they have that ancient urge to want to test their ability against the animal," said Davies. "Some want the trophy and the experience of hunting in Africa," he added.

At Umgamanzi Game Ranch, located in the heart of the Eastern Cape, a "trophy fee" for animals killed can be as high as $2400 for an eland, a large spiral-horned African antelope, and $300 for a springbok.

The hunting season is from March to October and ranch owners travel abroad during the remaining four-month mating season to market their game farms.

The Eastern Cape is prime hunting ground for foreigners with many wanting to claim the prize of a kudu, zebra, gemsbok or wildebeest, said Peter Butland, an experienced professional hunter.

But there are instances when foreign hunters spend weeks hunting only to return home empty-handed, added Butland, a self-avowed hunting enthusiast. "It is my way of getting closer to nature, to outdoor life... it is in my genes," he said.

Maintaining a delicate ecosystem?
In most private game reserves, wild animals live without natural predators, and hunters see themselves as balancers of the ecosystem.

"These animals have to be managed, and the hunting and culling is part of that," said Davies.

As part of what hunting professionals consider "ethical hunting", hunting with dogs is not allowed at the game ranches in South Africa.

"If you have a powerful rifle, and you use dogs to hunt, that can never be fair, you might as well put the wild animal in a cage and shoot it," said Davies.

While the anti-hunting lobby is weak in South Africa, the business is subject to regulation from industry associations and the department of environmental affairs and tourism.

"The culture of hunting is acceptable in South Africa, unlike other parts of the world," added Davies.

The Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa is also opposed to 'canned hunting', when animals are hunted in a smaller fenced-in area.


AFP