Agri Kultuur August / Agustus 2016 | Page 40

Gerhard Verdoorn The South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA) wants government to implement mechanisms to regulate selective and intensive game breeding practices in the interest of protecting the country’s biodiversity and its international reputation as a leader in conservation. S elective and intensive game breeding practices in the private game breeding sector are aimed at enhancing or altering genetic characteristics of game species for commercial purposes and include artificial and unnatural manipulation of wildlife to achieve unusual coat colours and excessive horn lengths. Although SAHGCA fully supports an extensive game farming sector and appreciates its contribution to the economy, the Association believes that certain uncontrolled practices might have detrimental effects on biodiversity and holds unwanted consequences for the wildlife industry as a whole. Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, President of SAHGCA, says the http://www.mpilacamp.co.za/images/HluhluweiMfolozi_Impala.jpg Association is very concerned about trends in the private game ranching sector where game breeders produce a growing assortment of unnatural colour variations among indigenous game. “These practices of deliberately selecting and breeding animals for specific traits, similar to stock farming, to produce unusual coat colours or very large horn-lengths are not compatible with conservation principles.” SAHGCA says this ongoing exploitation of indigenous wild animals will affect the integrity of South Africa’s wildlife and harm the country’s reputation as a leader in conservation. “We understand that the stakes in the game industry are high, but we have to be responsible