Tourist Hunting in Tanzania - A Safari Operator's Overview at NAPHA AGM 2014

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TOURIST HUNTING IN TANZANIA - A SAFARI OPERATOR’S OVERVIEW WITH EMPHASIS ON LION SITUATION
Presentation by
ABDUKADIR LUTA MOHAMED
SECRETARY GENERAL
TANZANIA HUNTING OPERATORS ASSOCIATION (TAHOA)

Introduction
I would like to begin by thanking all NAPHA members under the Chairmanship of Mr. Kai Uwe Denker for inviting me to witness this honourable Annual General Meeting and also to be given an opportunity to make this presentation.
Thank you very much Mr. President

The subject of this presentation reads:

TOURIST HUNTING IN TANZANIA - A SAFARI OPERATOR’S OVERVIEW WITH EMPHASIS ON LION SITUATION” .
Let me state that in this short time, I cannot cover all aspects of tourist hunting in Tanzania, I will only touch on some issues that are of great importance to know and also on those issues that if not handled properly may cause serious consequence to the tourist hunting Industry as a whole.
I know that some of the subjects I will touch, may have been already raised or will be raised at a later time but my aim in this presentation is to stimulate thinking so that we can have a lively discussions during this forum.

Summary of my presentation
  • A brief of where is Tanzania
  • What is Tourist hunting?
  • Is the current situation satisfactory?
  • Lion Challenges
  • Tackling the challenges
  • Conclusion

What is Tourist Hunting?
You have to understand what is hunting. It is the oldest profession of man. It is on record at least for the time being, that the remains of the first man believed to be millions of years old, were found at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania near Ngorongoro.
This early man survived by hunting. Primitive tools for hunting have and are on display at the Tanzania National Museum.
Man has continued to hunt to fulfill the ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL-POLITICAL demands which includes: Food, Commercial, medicines, safety, to contain preditors, as a profession, to prove courage and strength, ritual activity, passion and recently as means of conservation etc.

Legislation on Hunting in Tanzania:
  • Hunting is conducted in accordance with Wildlife Conservation Act -2009 and Wildlife Conservation (Tourist Hunting) Regulation, 2010
  • Traditional hunting
  • Local or resident hunting
  • Animal controlled Hunting
Tourist hunting:
Tourist Hunting is conducted Safari Outfitters in hunting blocks leased on five year tenure through packages of 5,7,10,14,21,and28 days.
The offtake is through controlled quota system, which is set annually by a Committee comprising of experts from the Wildlife Division, Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), which is the CITES Scientific Authority in Tanzania and some selected academic institutions. The setting of quota is based on data and other relevant information available in terms of species distribution, natural breeding history, recruitment rate and population estimates, which partly, is derived from regular conducted censuses, research work and indices as may be reflected reports by field personnel.

Is the existing situation satisfactory ?
THE ANSWER IS NO. WHY? BECAUSE OF THERE ARE CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY

The challenges facing the hunting industry:
  • The stake holders are their own enemies, because, few understand what hunting is all about.
  • No unity among different groups; PH vs PH , PH vs OUTFITTERS, OUTFITTER vs OUTFITTER ;NGO vs NGO, HUNTERS vs HUNTERS, HUNTERS vs ANTI HUNTTERS, GOVERMENT VS GOVERNMENT, NGO VS GOVERNMENT etc.
  • Conservation Issues; CITES; IUCN , SCIENTIST etc.
  • Unfriendly and unworkable legislations
  • Insecurity of investments as no guarantee on long-term assurances on investment
  • Political interferences; local and international; USA FWS
  • Dangerous diseases like Ebola
  • Terrorism
  • High expectations from unpredictable communities
  • Poaching
  • Population growth
  • Live stock
  • Animal and environmental Scientist etc.
Lion challenges:
  • While the Tanzania Government and majority of stake holders) believe and facts prove that Lion is not endangered in Tanzania
  • Animal rights activists and some Scientists have different ideas
  • More on lion challenges
  • Retaliatory killing of lions
  • More on lion challenges…
  • Lion poisoning
Government Statement on Lion Population in Tanzania:
‘Tanzania forms an important region for nature conservation, not only because of its biogeographic location, but also due to the economic and socio-political incentives that are directly derived from natural resources such as wildlife.
These incentives in turn have ensured the maintenance of abundant, healthy population of wildlife species of global importance such as the African elephant, African leopard, Cheetah and African lion. Through sound ecological management and legislation, many wildlife species flourish in the vast tracts of wildlife habitats set aside for nature conservation.
It is because of these efforts that Tanzania hosts today important global populations of wildlife species ranging from elephants, buffalo all the way to large carnivores such as the lion. The global population of wild lions stands at approximately 30,000 animals and Tanzania is home to 16,800 (56%) making it an important range state for their conservation (Riggio, 2012, Mesochina, 2010). Population estimates over the past 10+ yrs indicate stability in the Tanzania population in spite of ongoing threats facing the rest of the global population, e.g., habitat loss, retaliatory killings etc. (), Therefore, the in the United Republic of Tanzania (URT), the lion (Panthera leo) is regarded as neither threatened nor /endangered.’
“The lion population in Tanzania is not endangered nor facing threat of local extinction (Mesochina et al, 2010, Riggio, 2012). However, the shear number of lions and local human population growth rate places the population at risk to a number of social factors. These include Retaliatory and ritual killings and problem-animal control (PAC).”

New regulation on lion hunting:
Huntable lions are defined as lions whose harvest has no negative impact on the sustainability of local lion population dynamic. Research has shown that these are typically males five years of age or more that have usually completed at least one breeding cycle (Whitman et al., 2004). In light of the above, the URT has decided to implement the following:-
  • Introduce an age-based Regulations in lion hunting;
  • Strengthen the existing monitoring procedures for lion trophy hunting;
  • Develop capacity building within the trophy hunting industry.
Within all the African lion range states, the URT has been the first country to officially establish age restriction regulation on lion hunting at country level. It is clearly stipulated in sections 24(5)(a) and 24(6) of the Wildlife Conservation (Tourist Hunting) Regulations of 2010 that “no person shall hunt lion of an age below six years”. Any professional hunter who guides a client to hunt any lion in contravention of the above Regulations commits an offence and upon conviction is liable for penalties, including cancellation of professional hunters’ license taken by Tanzania to guarantee Lion sustainability

Implementation of the new Lion regulations:
  • Correct age determination by PH and clients
  • Knowledge and facilities to determine the age of a dead lion correctly
  • Challenges Authorities from importing countries especially USA and its allies.
  • Lion is the number one key spice why clients come to Tanzania – hence this has repacations on PH and Outfitters.
Tackling challenge:
  • Unity among stake holders especially those with similar goals.
  • Professional Hunters ,Clients and Outfitters have to come in to the open to fight for their right to hunt like the USA NRA
  • Direct confrontation with animal rights activists by exposing their hypocrisy about love for animals
  • Educate the Public on the good side good hunting
  • Positive publicity
  • Dig more finances and expertise for Conservation
CONCLUSION
Hunting has never been easy, It is not likely to be easy soon. Just like when you take the first step of your safari, you are always prepared for the challenges ahead before claiming a successful hunt. Now, starting by all of us in this room, lets all make a commitment of preparedness to face head on and clear all obstacles that come in to our way to stop us from realizing our passion. Hunting has and should remain our RIGHT.

ASANTE SANA
Thank you for your attention
L. Mohamed
 
good speech...

Thanks for sharing Jerome...
 

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