This is sad!

[Clive Symes]

Diana,
that was the Zebra skin Jacob had, and no he did not get in in Oranjemund ( ask him where when you see him) othewise I never remember any "pyjama donkeys" around town.

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

LOL must have been the  . I'm actualy seeing Jacob to-nite,its his Birthday to-day.

[Michael Alexander]

Leopard hunt condemned in SA
ABSALOM SHIGWEDHA

THE killing of what was probably the biggest leopard in Namibia in September has also been condemned in South Africa.

Reports say e-mails have been circulating in South Africa, condemning the killing of the leopard.

Giel de Kock, a former game warden in Namibia, was quoted by the South African Sunday newspaper Rapport as saying it was tragic that the leopard was shot, especially because of its extraordinary size.

De Kock argued that all predators are in competition with farming.

"Could it not have been better managed so that tourists could come and admire the animal in its natural environment," he was quoted as saying.

The same paper quoted South African conservationist Quinton Martins, the project manager at The Cape Leopard Trust, as saying removing predators such as leopard from their natural environment because of conflict with livestock farmers can have a detrimental effect on predator populations.

The South African condemnation of the killing of the leopard came after some readers of The Namibian last month expressed their disgust at the killing of such a magnificent animal in SMS messages sent to the newspaper.

The 82-kg leopard was shot and killed by American trophy hunter Brad Smith at the farm Gurub in the Khomas Hochland in September.

The big cat, which was about 10 years old and 2,2 metres long, was ranked the eight largest trophy of its species by Safari Club International, an international body of trophy hunters.

Professional hunter Gerard Erasmus of Sumsare Safaris, who led the leopard hunt, defended the killing of the leopard by claiming it was a problem animal.

Erasmus claimed that the leopard had killed over 50 calves in the area.

He said the leopard was killed legally as the hunter had a permit to kill it.

Approached for comment on the South African outrage at the shooting of the leopard, Director of Parks and Wildlife Management Ben Beytell said there was nothing wrong with killing the leopard.

Beytell said the Ministry has a Cites quota of about 150 endangered animals a year that can be offered to trophy hunters.

"The killing of the leopard does not pose any risks for the species," said Beytell.

In Namibia, the leopard is a specially protected species and can only be hunted with a permit.

It is listed on Cites Appendix I, a list of animals and plant species that are threatened with extinction.

Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional and carefully controlled circumstances.

[Carl Wrbka]

This is inevitably what happens when humans encroach on their habitat. It's 100% a man made problem. The leopard was there first, then came the farmer with his menu of juicy young calves. A guaranteed recipe for conflict.

The same excuse was used in Denmark in the annual Dolphin massacre. The fishermen claim that the dolphins eat all their fish and chase the rest further into the ocean. Solution : Lets kill the dolphins... 

[Leon Sumter]

I have always had a serious problem with these big game hunters who get some thrill when they kill a magnificent animal with a high powered rifle from about half a kilometer away. What chance does the animal stand. Why does the hunter not move to within say 50 meters of the prey and then see who comes off best. Now that would be a challenge.

[georg ruf jr.]

The Romans loved those games Clive... 

[Clive Symes]

The Christians did'nt   

[henniek]

Burglars broke in at the main building of a game reserve near Humansdorp . Drank a lot of Rum / Cane/ Brandy . ... Yes .. and Eisch .. then the noticed the glasfibre replica of a Rhino in the reception area . Off they went to the kitchen , got a meat chopper , and robbed the rhino of its horn . And ?? I wonder who the lucky man from China is who will swollow ground glassfibre to pep him  . Sounds like Ripley's believe it or not !

[Carl Wrbka]

 

Only in Africa...

[Michael Alexander]

Put a smile on my face....

[Adriaan Van Rooyen]

So,when is the big game hunters going to have a go at our gemsbok.......i see the little ones that were born literally in town have applied to attend primary school ,would be a sad day the day someone decides meat is meat and we have to eat.....