Educating communities about environmental conservation
SAMSON Phakathi deals with the cultural sensitivities and legal and criminal aspects of poaching with dogs. He engages directly with alleged poachers, encouraging them to instead take up legal, environmentally responsible activities such as fishing. He deals with traditional leaders, schoolchildren and their teachers, private landowners, the SAPS and the KZN hunting fraternity. He is also dedicated to protecting grassland habitats and the species which call them home. Quite a workload!
His work has won him many awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award by a leading wildlife NGO, and numerous awards by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). Based in Howick in the KZN Midlands, Phakathi is a senior field worker on the EWT’S Threatened Grassland Species Programme.
His conservation journey began in the small town of Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga, where he and his siblings spent much time with their late father – himself an astute hunter. “I grew up herding cows and goats along the outskirts of the wetland, world-renowned for its abundance of birds,” Phakathi says.
The catalyst for change in his life is amusing. He tells how the local community held a perception that a “wetland bull” – dangerous to humans – lived in these beautiful waters. After completing matric in 1999 at Utaga Combined School, Phakathi was determined to confront this frightening creature. “To my surprise, I discovered it was a white-winged flufftail – only about 8cm long, but with a call that resembles that of a bull!” he laughed.
That was the moment when he realised there was an important need to bridge the information gap about biodiversity conservation among the local community. “I have spent the last 18 years of my working life walking this very important journey.”
He explains that in some communities they believe using dogs to flush, chase and hunt game is an authentic practice, as historically the Zulu nation organised an annual hunt (an inqina) where elderly men and boys went on a week-long hunting trip. “They targeted mainly old rams which had been chased from the herd by the young, strong rams. The inqina was a controlled form of hunting, as it only took place during the non-breeding season.”
Old traditions have decayed, and now people of different races go out with packs of dogs ranging from 30 upward. “There is also an element of gambling, which is difficult to deal with,” he explains. Because a wide network is involved, the poachers may not even come from the area where animals are being poached. “The livestock of local communities is also often killed or stolen.”
Phakathi stresses the importance of using the correct channels. The local induna or traditional authority is always his first port of call. He plans carefully, so his engagement does not come across as disregarding local beliefs or views, but gives people an opportunity to share their own views.
In order to gain the locals’ trust, Phakathi has taken time to understand the different cultures and correct approaches. “I spend a great deal of time listening about what people hold dearly in their lives, and somehow put myself in their shoes, so they can relate to me better.”
Allowing poachers an opportunity to develop solutions themselves is helpful. He asks them about the animals they hunt, and whether they are less abundant than before, and then asks them to picture their area without any game. This approach means that people are willing to engage.
He maintains it is difficult to assess the impact he might be making but admits that, due to his engagement with them, poachers have themselves taken a lead in responsible fishing, and have organised fishing competitions during holidays where poaching tends to be rife in KZN.
On a typical day Phakathi will address a community and run workshops where people are encouraged to take the lead.