WILD HARVESTS …Hunting for trophies and for the pot
WRINKLED elephant herds poured out of the woodland, to quench their thirst at the river.
Puku and impala gave way as the large animals made their way to drink their fill.
Baboons barked from the tree line, announcing the presence of the pride of lions that were resting under the shade of a large sausage tree – bellies full of buffalo meat.
Vultures picked the bones clean from the remains of the carcass. The lions had cornered the buffalo, pulled it down then devoured the still warm carcass with ravenous urgency, and having had their fill dragged themselves to sleep off their meal.
Three large kudu bulls observed us from a distance, a lone eland bull, kept company with a mixed herd of zebra and wildebeest – the peaceful scene was shattered by the bark of a rifle, then two shots rang out and a third hoarse cough from a larger calibre.
Thomas pointed with his chin to the woodland, from whence the shots had echoed – the animals halted in their activities, the lions sat up, the elephants lifted their trunks to sniff the WIND.
The kudu melted into the shadows, whereas the puku, impala, wildebeest, and zebra had their eland companion bunched together.
Moving as one, we made our way to the source of the gunshots, stopping to listen, look and smell then as silent as possible made our way keeping to the shadows.
David raised his hand, pointed to a spot where a man was breaking some branches from a shrubs, dressed in green overalls.
He called out to another to come help him break some more. There and then another man equally dressed in the same design and colour of overall joined him.
It was at this point that George and David walked up to them.
We watched from our hidden positions, no sooner had our men approached them than a conversation was struck. Smiles and handshakes were exchanged - we joined them.
The two men were the tracker and skinner of the Safari Hunting Company in the area.
We were led to where we found the Professional Hunter (PH) his client and the client’s wife standing around a felled buffalo carcass, its head crowned with an impressive set of horns.
The PH whom I knew – (whom I shall call Daniel) smiled on seeing us. He introduced us to his clients and vice-versa.
They had arrived two days before and were on a long
hunting safari, their first to Zambia – the buffalo was their first harvest, they were booked to hunt lion, leopard, warthog, zebra, crocodile, hippo, a variety of antelope – kudu, puku, impala, waterbuck, bushbuck,
wildebeest and eland. Then fly to the wetlands of Kafue Flats to harvest Kafue lechwe, then onto the Bangweulu to hunt black lechwe, tsessebe and sitatunga.
I could only imagine how much the couple were paying, but overall regardless of the debates for or against hunting, the millions that are raised across the continent where hunting takes place - where it is properly handled - go directly to wise wildlife management and related activities, among them the protection of the habitat and the wildlife.
Trophy hunting of the so- called big five – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard bring with it not only a lot of financial gain but also moral questions all in all fierce opposition from animal rights groups.
It is not the intention here to neither bring nor encourage the debate whatever the case.
It is better an animal is paid to be harvested - the benefits trickle down to a community sharing space with wildlife - from a poached animal very few benefit.
Three days later the same couple added a lion, kudu, puku and waterbuck to their bag, flew out to the wetlands to hunt the wetland species before flying back to continue.
The advantage of having PHs is that they drive around a lot, building tracks into the recesses of the wilderness area -, thus are able to cover much ground and keep an eye on what is going on in the bush.
Every hunt is accompanied by a wildlife scout who reports back on what he has seen, call up for back up in case they run into poachers.
A week or so the scout accompanying Daniel reported that they had come across fresh spoor of six men in a section of ravines, it was obvious the men were encamped somewhere in there.
A unit was called up to flush them out – there was a brief skirmish, physical arm to arm confrontation before the intruders were subdued.
There had been more than 12 of whom five managed to escape; the poachers had been hunting buffalo and antelope, drying the meat on long racks, then carting them away on bicycles.
More units were called in to help sweep through the ravines. It was enough that this one group had been caught as it sent a message to others.
As it turned out the field units found hastily abounded lairs and hideouts many with the evidence of much activity over a period of time.
Later in the year, we would be having local and resident hunters who would come to hunt for the pot – legally that is.
Like safari hunters, they must be accompanied by a wildlife scout to ensure the rules and regulations are adhered to.
All these wild harvests - trophy and meat hunting where properly channeled the money raised when properly utilised advantages both people and the wildlife.
Daniel shot a massive eland bull; the meat was given to the villagers, who could not help but dance in appreciation of the massive meat bounty.
The conservation charges went directly to the management of the wilderness area, the client took home his trophy, and the safari hunting company was also pleased with the payment – all thanks to one eland bull.
The other antelope that had been harvested had been carefully distributed among villages so all could benefit including of course the chief.
When the hunting season closes, the parks field units continue to dutifully carry out their work.
Wildlife management is a 24/7 undertaking be it in the wilderness or on private land.
Now as the thunder rumbled in the distance, we braced ourselves for the coming rains.
While the licensed hunters would all be gone we were preparing to face the onslaught from another set of wildlife harvesters – they follow no rules nor care for the laid down decrees that protect eh wildlife-the poachers
To them the rains were a blessing, washing away their footprints, thunder muffled the boom of their guns – yes the poachers.
Looking across the river into the national park one morning Thomas commented “Here we go again” referring to the approaching rains and the challenges ahead of us. I could only mumble in return.