SAFARI organisers have found loopholes in the law to offer overseas hunters rhino dart-hunting packages which they describe as the “ultimate in sport hunting”, despite “green-dart hunting” being outlawed in South Africa. The authorities have confirmed that several Eastern Cape private game reserves, along with others in the country, are involved in the practice. The Environmental Affairs Department backs rhino dart-hunting, saying it is legal, but veterinary experts say it has only been made possible because of a loophole in legislation. Rhino dart-hunting packages are mainly sold to overseas hunters for between R150000 and R250000 a hunt, depending on the species of rhino the hunter wants to dart. The prices generally include accommodation, veterinary assistance and a professional guide. Some reserves offer both darting and rhino trophy-hunting – where the animal is killed for a trophy mount – which cost up to R1.3-million a hunt. This news comes two weeks after The Herald revealed that 17 hunting permits were issued in the Eastern Cape this year alone – more than the total number of rhinos poached in the province in the same period (15). A total of 72 hunting permits have been issued in the Eastern Cape over the past six years. The rhino-darting safaris came to light after Environment MEC Sakhumzi Somyo said in a written reply to DA MPL Ross Purdon that green darting had been outlawed. However, he then said it was legal as long as the darting was done under the pretence of “darting for management purposes”. Somyo said 109 such darting incidents had occurred between 2009 and last year, with none in the province so far this year. Environmental Affairs officials, who declined to be named, said that while only vets were legally allowed to tranquillise a rhino, the law did not prohibit hunters from darting the animals under the pretence of administrating vitamins – known as vita darting – and then using the darting exercise as a management tool to test the animal’s health. “The payment by the client also covers the vet bill in terms of all the medical tests that must be done,” an official said. However, after the hunter has darted the animal with the vitamins, a vet shoots it with a tranquilliser dart, allowing management and health tests to be done. “During this time and while tests are being done, the hunter poses with the rhino,” the official said. “It is legal and a loophole [that is being exploited]. “However, if no hunting or vita darting was allowed, there would be no value to keeping rhinos as they would be more of a risk and not worth buying for a farm.” Cradock-based Tam Safaris, one of the best-known hunting safari organisers in the province, is believed to have paved the way for rhino dart-hunting. According to its website, it is one of a few rhino reserves that have an accredited management and research programme in place with the SA Game Department. According to international hunting newsletter The Hunting Report, rhino dart-hunting is legal, requiring a TOPS (Threatened or Protected Species) permit issued by provincial wildlife authorities. Tam Safaris owner Irvin Tam failed to respond to questions e-mailed to him, despite promising to do so. SA Veterinary Council vice-president and leading wildlife vet Dr Jana Pretorius said any form of commercial green-dart hunting was seen as unethical by the council, regardless of the reason. “There are several consequences to green-dart hunting, whether it is a vita dart or tranquilliser. The [councils] move to ban it came after the realisation that the same animals were being darted frequently, some every week, for weeks on end. “This led to calves dying and other rhinos becoming addicted to the anaesthetics.” Pretorius said in most green- dart hunting cases the aim was to generate money, with little regard for the animal’s health. Endangered Wildlife Trust chief executive Yolan Friedmann said: “We do not support any form of ‘green hunting’.” heraldlive.co.za/loophole-sees-rhinos-dart-hunted/ via Sue Spurgin
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 04:47:02 +0000
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