Categories: uncategorized
Date: 04 April 2008 13:35:32
I am a great lover of the documentary programmes of Louis Theroux on the BBC. He manages to look at people, and subjects, in a neutral and open way that leaves the subject to display itself in its own rediculousness or to bring understanding. His next programme will be about the world of commercial game hunting in South Africa.
For many of us this will bring an image of upper class toffs in safari jackets and long shorts wandering around with a trailing pack of native porters. Think Michael Caine in Zulu or Stewart Grainger in King Solomon's Mines. A throwback to the days when Britain had the largest Empire television had ever seen.
Modern hunting no longer sees you tracking the animal through the wild African landscape. You don't wader the "bush" for days tracking your prey, or being tracked by it. Now you go to a Game Farm where the animals are bred and raised to cater to this tourist industry. Therefore any old Tom, Dick or Harriot can hunt their choice of prey - if they can meet the asking price.
Anything is game. The list varies from Porcupine ($250), through Warthog ($300), various species of deer, onto the more sought after targets: Hippo ($8000), Buffalo ($14000); male lion ($25-35000) and Rhino ($50-100000). All are bred on very large farms for hunting.
To me this is something that should be encouraged.
Why?
Well think of it, you are helping to pay for the breeding and upkeep of many wild animals who would otherwise be threatened with extinction through poaching or the extension of civilisation, as man removes their natural habitat.
Yes, hunting is a brutal thing; it does lead to the death of the quarry. However most of the people who do this are people who care about the animals they want. They don't want an animal to suffer and, as often as possible, ensure a clean, painless kill. To hear hunters talk you will hear them speak of the connection they have with the animal.
The other good thing about commercial hunting is that the majority of the animal is used for meat. They're not just after the trophy but also using the animal for food. The deer killed are then butchered and the meat used to make Biltung (deer jerky - mmmmm).
The farmers also get close to the animals they farm and become attached to them. They don't want to see their animals suffer needless. They put feed out for them in the dry season and provide water as well. Something that the animals would have difficulty finding.
I'm looking forward to seeing how these people, the hunters and farmers, come across. Louis usually finds humanity in most of his subjects and poposity as well.