Private game reserve under fire
2013-02-16 12:35
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Johannesburg
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Johannesburg - A petition is being circulated against a
private game reserve in Limpopo that is offering packages to hunt rhino instead
of saving them, it was reported on Saturday.
The petition by Paul Kruger Safaris against the Timbavati
Private Nature Reserve offering rhino hunting packages, was supported by
various other nature conservationists, the Saturday Star reported.
"Everyone is fighting for the rhino but Timbavati is
allowing them to be hunted," said nature conservationist Pieter Odendaal.
He said Timbavati and the Kruger National Park had agreed
that no fences would be erected between the parks to allow animals to roam
freely.
"These rhinos set to be shot may well be rhinos that
belong to the Kruger Park and who, by chance, are in the way of the
hunters," said Odendaal.
Timbavati reportedly said photographic tourism operations
were far more damaging than sustainable, well managed hunting operations.
"Only male white rhino above a certain age or horn
size are hunted, according to a strict protocol," said chairperson Thomas
Hancock.
The Kruger National Park said the rhino hunting packages
were unethical.
"They tell us that the rhino bulls are old, and ask
if they are expected to simply let them die under a tree. I say yes-let nature
take its cause," said spokesperson Ike Phaahla.
- SAPA
