African Hunter Published Books Guide to Nyati | Hunting the African Buffalo | Page 16

Photograph - Clive Stockil

Ration meat! In the early 1900’s, before the advent of sport hunting buffalo
had no real value other than as a source of protein for hundreds of farm hands
who’s job it was to tame the raw African bush turning it into ranch land for
cattle and general cropping. Ironically one day buffalo would form the corner
stone of a restoration process which would see them and other game species
reintroduced. It is interesting to note that as part of the program to reassemble
the natural fauna within the Save Valley Conservancy, 600 elephant - made up
of entire family herds - were darted and relocated from Gonarezhou National
Park more than a hundred kilometres away. Translocation of complete herds,
let alone on this scale, had never been attempted before.
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