Denker defends hunting

• ABSALOM SHIGWEDHAREGULATED hunting has no effect on the disappearance of species in Namibia, says well-known trophy hunter, Kai-Uwe Denker, who adds that the concept of sustainable use was introduced as a major conservation tool and Namibia has reaped huge benefits from it.

Denker, who is the president of the Namibian Professional Hunters Association, recently gave a talk on trophy hunting in Windhoek at the invitation of the Namibian Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS).

He said because hunting can play an important role in protecting the environment, pure hunting ways will ensure wildlife protection.

“In a superficial approach the non-hunting section of the conservation community often tries to blame hunting for the decrease in wildlife populations. Some 40 years ago, several institutions involved in hunting did not have the desired effect in protecting animals and their natural environment – to the contrary,” said Denker.

He explained that a subsequent analysis by the World Wildlife Fund into the true reasons for the disappearance were found to be intensive agriculture, air and water pollution, roads and road traffic, urbanisation and regulations of streams and rivers and the destruction of natural habitats.

He said at times, they as hunters, feel that they are not being treated fairly at all – especially last year during the public debate on the hunting of the Dorob lion and other issues.

The issue sparked a huge public outcry against trophy hunting. However, Denker explained that the Dorob lion was hunted according to all legal and ethical requirements within the context of sustainable use.

“Yet, there was a huge uproar by anti-hunters, while the indiscriminate killing of more than a dozen lions in the same vicinity because of conflict with cattle breeders was simply shrugged off,” Denker said.

“By the way, let us not forget that a lion also is a hunter and kills animals. And perhaps it has to be pointed out that a lion is not an emotionless machine that reluctantly and grudgingly secures his daily meat requirement.

“No, watch a lion and you will realise that the spine-chilling excitement of the hunt is a driving force behind his very essence, stronger than biting. That is what differentiates a lion from a vulture or a zebra. Is either of them wrong?” he asked.

Denker argued that regulated trophy hunting through the concept of sustainable use can play a huge role in conservation as a tourist hunting is a way of learning the very basics of nature in its purest form.

“Hunting is an ancient human activity, As such it means experiencing an original way of life in unspoiled nature. Hunting can be the purest form of eco-tourism,” he said.

*Absalom Shigwedha is a Namibian freelance environmental journalist. E-mail:absalom@shigwedha@gmail.com

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