Limpopo ‘driven hunt’: shot are clean kills says NSPCA
A group of international hunters arrived at the farm in Alldays on Monday where they started taking part in the driven hunt that will take place over several days.
LIMPOPO – The driven hunt has become a hot topic all over social media over the past few days. A group of international hunters arrived at the farm in Alldays on Monday where they started taking part in the driven hunt that will take place over several days.
NSPCA explains “A variety of animals, antelope, baboon and warthog are chased down a specially cleared 2 km stretch of land into a wall of gunfire. The hunters stand on purpose-built platforms along the strip, ready to take shots at the animals as they pass, making them dead-certain targets”.
The NSPCA earlier this week launched an emergency protest against this scheduled hunt and obtained a warrant to access the farm to investigate. “We are doing everything possible to stop the hunt, but we need to work within the framework of the law and our powers. We will keep our supporters updated,” the NSPCA said in a statement and on its Facebook page on Monday.
‘Hunt was strictly controlled and well organised’
The NSPCA added that while driven hunts are legal, should an animal not be killed outright or immediately with a second shot, this will be a contravention of the Animal Protection Act and is punishable by law. The Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation confirmed in a statement that a total of 40 animals were killed during the driven hunt in the space of the first two days. The foundation as well as representatives of the Department of Environmental Affairs and NSPCA inspector, Isabel Wentzel were access to watch the hunt.
Wentzel said as far as she observed the hunt was strictly controlled and well organised. She said there is no legal precedent to refer to in this case, and the method of this type of hunting is not illegal, but remains unethical. The shots were clean kills, and there was no animal cruelty involved, she said.
Department of Environmental Affairs
According to department spokesperson, Simon Matome: “Hunting in the province is regulated through the issuing of permits in accordance with two Acts”. He added that in the case of certain species listed as threatened or protected such as leopard, elephant, rhino, black wildebeest or common reedbuck, hunting is further regulated by the Threatened or Protected Species Regulations of 2007, as published in Government Gazette No 29657.” The department emphasised that no hunting permits were at any point issued for any threatened or protected species for the hunt, only for certain species of plains game. The farm in question was issued with an exemption permits, as well as two other farms in the area,” Matome said.
Matome, who was present at the hunt said it was conducted in a responsible manner, with supervision from professional hunters and a hunting master. “Only a specific number of shots may be fired in a particular direction and only specific firearms, which require precision and accuracy from the hunter, may be utilised in order to support the fair chase principle,” he said.
Some, however, are still outraged. Xanthe Joubert from Louis Trichardt asked all animal lovers to join in a protest march. “Meet us at the parking lot of Checkers in Louis Trichardt on Friday at 10:00 or meet us before 12:00 at the farm’s entrance,” she said. Concerned people can send queries or complaints to MakhubeleSH@Ledet.gov.za or call the department’s offices at (015) 290 7070.
