African Wildlife And Environment Issue 73

GENERAL

which Namibia is my favourite example. This is the start of a push-back which is long overdue. Let’s see where it goes to…

For many years African leaders have built up growing resentment about the way their natural wildlife assets have been rendered worthless through the decisions made by the parties to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). The bans on trade in ivory and rhino horn, and various restrictions on the importation of African hunting trophies, have undermined the excellent conservation achievements by many Africa states, of

Dr John Ledger Consulting Editor john.ledger@wol.co.za 083 650 1768 https://www.facebook.com/john.ledger.5661

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The Lonely Impala F our years ago, before we had erected an electric fence round our farm just outside White River, we were surprised to see a lone female Impala in the macadamia trees. It had probably escaped from one of the many estates in the area that have game. For the next month it would come and go, but when we completed the fence we found that we had a captive Impala. To begin with its flight distance was about 40 metres, until it started trying to team up with the duiker, which were plentiful, and which would hide in thick vegetation. But while Impala are herd animals, duiker are solitary, and it soon became obvious that they resented the overtures made by the Impala as they would run away and hide themselves in suitable cover whenever she got close to them. Soon she was also hiding in suitable cover, and on one occasion was

seen lying with her head on the ground, which I have seen Mountain Reedbuck do when the grass was too short to adequately conceal them. Her flight distance at this stage was about 30 metres. And then I got a flock of geese, and her behaviour changed again. She has now joined the flock, and as long as the geese are happy, she is happy. But let the geese give warning calls and she will head for the hills. When the geese are resting she also rests, and her flight distance is now about 10 metres. Even then she doesn't go far, but will retreat sedately to about 30 metres away. When the perceived danger is past she will join the flock again. Surprisingly, she prefers the company of the geese to that of the flock of sheep that I have. Regards Ricky Pott rpott@mweb.co.za

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