Trophy development hinges on effective management

The solution to optimal wildlife trophy development incorporates age, nutrition and genetics.

This is according to an article by Wildlife Vets Namibia, which warned that the anti-hunting lobby is doing its best to wipe out trophy hunting as a sport, using every weapon at their disposal to do so.

“Little do they care about the fact that the hunting industry is the main reason behind the massive shift from stock to game farming and increased conservation effort," the organisation stated.

Wildlife Vets emphasised that trophy hunting contributes significantly to the conservation of natural habitats and wildlife in general.

“However, ignorance and/or greed on the part of game ranchers, hunting outfits and hunters alike results in many questionable game management practices ranging from overexploitation of trophy animals to outright criminal and fraudulent activities.”

This only adds fuel to the fires of the anti-hunting lobby and will, in time, threaten the continued existence of good-quality wildlife, Wildlife Vets stressed.



Management key to development

The organisation said that significantly improved trophy development can be achieved through good management principles adjusted to local conditions. Therefore, age, nutrition and genetics significantly influence trophy development in all species.

“Any management programme that has trophy quality as a goal must pay attention to these factors, else it will fail."

Wildlife Vets advised that emphasis should be placed first on addressing the most significant limiting factors on most game ranches: nutrition and age distribution.

“Providing adequate nutrition, ideally through habitat management, avoiding overstocking rather than supplemental nutrition, and promoting the survival of animals of older age classes will produce the best and most cost-effective results."

It added: “It is quite sad that there is a complete lack of well-executed scientific research for southern African game species.”