ANSWER TO FEBRUARY'S TRIVIA

The Answer to the February 2021 Trivia is the South African Springbok.

By the 1920's the species (numbering under 1,000 animals) was almost exterminated. It is one of South Africa's major agriculture exports now. The current census ranges from 800,000 up to 2,000,000.

There are literally so many of them no one knows. It is one of the least endangered wild mammals on earth. A true success story of conservation through hunting.

Unfortunately we did not have any eligible winners. Most common guesses were elephant and bison!
Dr. Eric Simmons,DVM guessed correctly, but he already won in the past.

Drought in South Africa Affecting Safaris

Drought in South Africa Affecting Safaris

Some safaris in South Africa will be affected by the severe ongoing drought there. The Hunting Report has heard from hunters who have had operators move scheduled hunts in Limpopo to less dry areas of the country. We contacted the Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa (PHASA) to find out more. PHASA has issued the following press release on the situation there:

The Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa (PHASA) says the 2016 hunting season is going well despite South Africa having recently experienced its worst drought in a century.

Eight of South Africa's nine provinces have been declared disaster areas, with only Gauteng being the exception. Chief Executive Tharia Unwin says the association's outfitter members, especially those who are active in the north of the country, have had to seek alternative hunting areas to meet their booking obligations. "However, demand is being met, and the hunting season is going well," she says.

"We have had reports of hardship from members who are also landowners in some of the worst affected areas and as a result our Conservation and Empowerment Fund recently donated R10,000 towards BOERE IN NOOD (FARMERS IN NEED), a Facebook-driven fundraising initiative aimed at transporting feed to the worst affected areas." she says.

Hunters headed to South Africa this season will want to contact their operators to see how the drought might affect safari plans. If you have any issues on a safari, please file a report. - Justin Jones, Assistant Editor

Guest Writer Bwana Dave - Feast of the Rhinoceros

Guest Writer Bwana Dave - Feast of the Rhinoceros

The bushes whipped back like storm lashings in a hurricane, the behemoth blasted by, a Jurassic Park throwback.   Blonde, one hundred thirty pounds (my wife not the beast) armed with little more than a kid’s toy versus three tons of solid attitude.   What are we doing?  There’s no experience in the world offering the same intensity for anything approaching the cost.  Here was my little 5’ 2” wife, armed with only a one shot dart gun, within fifteen feet of an extremely belligerent white rhino.  He sailed past, a grey battle cruiser coursing through an ocean of tan grass.   His head down, his horned head swaying from side to side, enraged, seeking to vent....