Kratos, the rhino bull, is safe – for now

LALIBELA’S magnificent white rhino bull, Kratos, is safe for now after the Grahamstown High Court yesterday interdicted this weekend’s planned R1.25-million trophy hunt on the internationally renowned game reserve.

The clandestine “walk-and-stalk” trophy hunts of the rhino, two lions and a buffalo – collectively worth more than R2-million – were scheduled to start this weekend, with four international hunters reportedly already in the country and waiting at Lalibela.

Judge Phakamisa Tshiki, in fact, interdicted the conservancy’s management company, Bayeti, from hunting or culling any game on Lalibela, except impala and warthog, pending the outcome of arbitration between the conservancy members who have been deeply split over the planned hunts. The hunts were to have quietly taken place now during the reserve’s quieter tourism season. Not even the game rangers on the conservancy were in the loop, according to court papers.

One of the conservancy members, Hillside Safaris, which owns Kichaka luxury eco-tourism lodge, took both Lalibela and Bayeti, to court to interdict the rhino hunt when it learnt of it.

Hillside’s Tim Fenner said the hunt was contrary to a conservancy agreement between the parties that dictates that no hunting can happen on the reserve and that culling for game management could only take place under the strictest of conditions.

Fenner said none of these conditions had been met and the contract had been breached.

Tshiki said his reasons for the

urgent order would follow later.

The judgment was widely welcomed by animal activists and members of the public who had waited anxiously for the court’s decision.

Fenner said he and his team at Kichaka were delighted with the outcome, which meant Kratos would be safe for now.

“At the end of the day, none of this should have been necessary.

“Nature Conservation should not have granted a permit, a hunter should not have wanted to pay R1.2-million to have one photo taken of him standing next to a slaughtered rhino, and Lalibela should never have allowed this proposed hunt to take place on their reserve.”

Fenner said he would continue to fight against the needless slaughter of wildlife on Lalibela and elsewhere.

Renowned English poet Harry Owen, who has lived in the Eastern Cape since 2008 and has closely fol- lowed the case, was ecstatic.

“While I acknowledge there may be arguments for hunting, I am against killing of anything unnecessarily, especially for pleasure or profit.

“We must all stand up for what is right, and this is right,” Owen said.

Allison Thomson, from Outraged Citizens of SA against Poaching, said the organisation was delighted.

“We understand the difficulties that eco-tourism conservancies have with wildlife management, but hunting an animal is not the only alternative.

“Kratos, aptly named after the Greek god of strength and might, now has a second chance,” she said.

Bayeti’s Rick van Zyl could not be reached for comment.

He indicated in court papers that Bayeti faced the possibility of damages to the tune of R5.1-million if the interdict was granted and the hunters were sent home empty-handed.

Tshiki also ordered Bayeti and Lalibela to pay the legal costs for the application.