Sunday, January 14, 2018

Trophy Hunting in Namibia

Trophy hunting, the practice of selectively hunting wild game for recreation and displaying the animal's carcass or distinctive features (such as tusks or antlers), has long been a controversial topic around the world.

"Namibia, a destination for sport hunters, is one of six African countries with significant populations of savanna elephants. In Etosha National Park, tourists come from around the world to see the elephants."
 - https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/11/151715-conservation-trophy-hunting-elephants-tusks-poaching-zimbabwe-namibia/


In Namibia, a country known for its incredible wildlife, the topic of trophy hunting and its persisting legality brings many different factors into play. Namibia's tourism industry accounts for 3% of its overall GDP. In a nation with high unemployment rates, it follows that arguments made in favor of the continued practice of trophy hunting tend to revolve around the economic benefits of the sport.

"Official statistics from the Namibian government show that hunting on commercial farms generates in excess of N$351 million [R351 million] per year." - https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/animals/game-and-wildlife/economic-ecological-benefits-hunting-namibia/
Photo: FW Archive

In 2015, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and FLore (CITES) allowed hunters to export a total of 180 tusks from Namibia. Those who argue in favor of trophy hunting in Namibia, such as Tanja Dahl, CEO of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association, maintain that the practice is conservation-based, sustainable, and well-regulated. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) has delivered statements claiming that trophy hunting generates around N$100 million in revenue for the government each year. Additionally, Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the MET has been quoted saying that this money "is then reinvested into conservation by means of support for human-wildlife conflict mitigation, anti-poaching, and infrastructure development" and more.

Critics of trophy hunting draw on all manner of arguments from moral, economic, and ecological angles. Those in opposition say that the practice is unsustainable and unethical with the proceeds often not reaching their intended recipients and the realities of the sport further endangering vulnerable species, such as the black rhino, and disrupting big cat populations.

Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/science/elephants-lions-africa-hunting.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FNamibia&action=click&contentCollection=world&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection
http://www.nacso.org.na/
https://www.newera.com.na/2017/07/03/trophy-hunting-generates-millions-says-environment-ministry/
https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/animals/game-and-wildlife/economic-ecological-benefits-hunting-namibia/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283910663_Trophy_Hunting_in_Namibia_Controversial_but_Sustainable_A_Case_Study_of_Hunters_Namibia_Safaris
http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/24/opinions/trophy-hunting-decline-of-species-opinion-dickman/index.html
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/11/151715-conservation-trophy-hunting-elephants-tusks-poaching-zimbabwe-namibia/

- Cecilia A. | Jan 14th, 2018
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7 comments:

  1. Stanford in NamibiaJanuary 14, 2018 at 9:55 PM

    You mention tourism makes up 3% of the GDP -- is this considered a lot? How does it compare to other countries? Is it expected to grow?
    In addition to affecting wildlife, I would be curious to learn how tourism affects the (few) residents of Namibia.
    -Michelle H.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stanford in NamibiaJanuary 15, 2018 at 4:31 PM

      For some brief comparison, roughly 4% of the GDP is made up by agriculture, so it's a significant amount.
      -Cole Holderman

      Delete
    2. Stanford in NamibiaMarch 10, 2018 at 2:56 PM

      This is about half of the GDP that is brought in from Diamond mining ~7%. I feel like the amount of tourism revenue is going up though
      - Chris

      Delete
  2. Mini RackerJanuary 15, 2018 at 3:51 PM

    I'm curious which way the evidence leans on whether the benefits of trophy hunting outweigh its costs. What does the data say about whether the practice is sustainable? Have studies shown who the proceeds benefit? How many animals can be hunted without permanently damaging endangered populations? -Mini Racker

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 28, 2018 at 2:11 PM

    I've heard that in some other African countries, the remains of the animal other than the typical trophy parts are now being returned to local communities for eating and other purposes. I wonder if a system like this is established in Namibian trophy hunting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Stanford in NamibiaMarch 10, 2018 at 2:55 PM

    Have you had any chance to see what animals the Namibian government allows for trophy hunting compared to which are actually advertised for hunting on the different websites? Is there a discrepancy between the two?

    ReplyDelete

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