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Coward of the Country
Kenny Rogers sang this wonderful song that I have always loved. If you know, you will understand – if you don’t, take a listen, it’s wonderful.
“…Son, you don’t have to fight to be a man…”
But the industry has been the punching bag for decades. And the people who like to attack it? The photographic / eco warriors, some who were hunters themselves before becoming eco warriors. Animal rights activists, and NGOs acting as animal right organizations, only to fund their lavish lifestyles.
We call them all Antis.
Sitting proudly on their high horses, proclaiming righteousness; custodians of what and how wildlife should be managed.
They ignore the facts and the law, making ethics the be all and end all of their argument.
They ignore international norms and standards from the likes of the IUCN, none other than the International Governing Authority on Conservation, that support the sustainable use of wildlife.
Perhaps ignore is too strong a word, but they certainly disrespect the law prescribed by the governments that outline and govern how the country’s wildlife should be managed.
They campaign internationally, boycott countries like Namibia and, in the most extreme case, Botswana for supporting sustainable utilization of wildlife. Using Western power, money and influence, be they media personalities or business leaders, against the very governments that have the unenviable task of trying to manage its wildlife. It is beyond belief. Many governments crumble because of international pressure. That is why the culling of elephants was stopped in Southern Africa. But watch this space; it is going to have to start in a small game reserve in South Africa very soon.
They disregard the consequences of their own behavior. Mislead their constituents, the public, stakeholders and customers; hiding facts on many occasions; fearful of consequences. Too short-sighted to invest the time to explain and educate the very people that should be able to be educated – those interested in Africa’s wildlife.
In the world today, with the power and influence of the media, you cannot hide facts forever. We are witnessing this more and more, as light is shed across every sector of society.
In the interest of chasing dollars, Antis build hotels and lodges in pristine wilderness areas (Okavango, Luangwa, Vic Falls, Kruger, you name it). There seems to always be enough evidence to support this – and besides, their claim is that they operate within the law. And if that isn’t bad enough, to mitigate any inconvenience their wealthy armchair conservationist clients might experience, more pristine wildness is sacrificed for private tarred runways. On Sabi Sands, there is not one, but several gashes of pristine wilderness destroyed for private and charter jets to land - all over this small 150 000-acre slice of Africa’s greatest Big 5 viewing game reserve. It’s legal – so it is ok.
So, having yet another 3000-foot tar runway built where thousands of indigenous trees and displaced wildlife were once settled is apparently fine. Sabi Sands has prostituted its privileged position of managing this wilderness for money.
The Masai Mara. Well, we are witnessing today what many have known for years. Cramming dozens of tourist-filled vehicles onto the banks of the Mara River, all vying for that magnificent view of wildebeest crossing. Hopefully, even witness a few getting torn apart by crocs. Oblivious that they are interfering with the natural course of possibly the most famous migration. To hell with the actual animals – which is what it should be about – this crowd will compromise everything for money. They might not be breaking the law, which is fine, but they are breaking everything else.
One crowd of Antis from Europe raised a ton of money to save / relocate / move 200-odd elephants to a remote area of Malawi. They believed this was the solution. They did not consult the neighboring community that would be living next to, and ultimately be affected, by the elephants. Dozens of community injuries and deaths in Malawi don’t grab the same headlines. Anyway, hopefully the legal system will bring just desserts to this crazy group of Antis. How dare they sit in the northern hemisphere and prescribe how Africa should manage her wildlife when the community (aka human beings) try benefit from the protection of, while living with, and where possible, minimize the damage and danger, of what these beasts can, will do and continue to do?
Then a major and influential community leader in South Africa, linked to the Greater Kruger, submitted a story to South Africa’s leading media platform, Daily Maverick, speaking out, also fed up with the Antis.
Then I heard about Blondie last Friday night.
Haven’t you heard about Blondie? I am not on the main database of Antis for obvious reasons.
I thought Blondie was the gorgeous British singer that I had a crush on growing up in Bulawayo, but no. That is the name our Antis have given to a lion. Yes, the anthropomorphism (how’s that for a word?) our Antis give to animals to make them easier to relatable to. Not black tail, or big mane or anything like that, but a human name. No names for ostriches, giraffes or buffalo, though. Sadly, they don’t fit that honor. Just lions, leopards and elephants. Not all of them either. Just the big, important ones. Important ones for the Antis. It is much easier to relate to, feel for, support with money, raise money for and become sentimental about a lion called Blondie.
It seems Blondie is the name given to a lion legally hunted in Zimbabwe earlier this year.
Chief PR agent, proudly announcing he was the first to bring this to the world’s attention, was Africa Geographic.
Their CEO sent me the video clip last Friday evening to look at. Not sure why? For no other reason than to engage, or so I surmise. I did and sent a few torpedoes back. I have known him for over 20 years and respect his business acumen, but we have different agendas.
I asked, “How and why did you build a PR campaign using Cecil, another named lion, hunted 10 years back, that was proven to be a 100% legal hunt if, for no other reason other than to stir emotions and avoid facts?”
He cut the conversation, went silent and has not responded since.
There may be a case to protect collared lions, and I am in support of that - if the government feels so, dictates the rules and all parties are clear about it.
There may be a case to engage and discuss a lot around the world of wildlife management – but if the Antis cannot come to the table in a constructive manner, within the law of the land and discuss the issues, then how can we move forward?
If they cannot respect:
· everyone’s point of view,
· the communities,
· the needs and demands of wildlife and biodiversity management,
· the government,
· local people affected and
· the businesses trying to operate within the law,
but instead resort to ongoing attacks, personally, emotionally, against legal hunters, then as the Coward of the Country ends… “Son, sometimes you have to fight to be a man.”
And so, I have taken his article that he published and commented throughout the piece. It is this piece on the Collared Lion.
August is a great month for thinking about renewing your subscription. We’re giving away a wonderful safari to one lucky subscriber this quarter
And new to the lineup is a column from, in my opinion, the greatest writer - Terry Wieland.
And for the ballistics enthusiasts, we are serializing and bringing a chapter from Pierre Van der Walt’s book.
And, if you're wondering about the buffalo in the hero image, read this story.
Enjoy the month. It is a big one, the month Elvis died.
Regards,
Richard Lendrum
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