| Every month in our newsletter - The ecoAfrican - we bring to our readers'
attention a topic that is currently a hot issue in African conservation or tourism. It is
usually a subject that is currently under debate and we try to bring you a few sides of
the story, as well as our own position on it. We encourage you as the reader to have your
say... If you'd like to add your view, please click here
or vote on our online
survey!
|
 |
Radio
collaring to guarantee game
sightings?
May 2005
Radio collaring is a very practical and successful tool that conservationists are
currently using to monitor wildlife movement and behaviour patterns. A debate
has, however, emerged around the practice of using radio collars to track animals for the
purposes of game viewing. We debated this issue internally here at ecoAfrica and
would like to know what our readers think…
Is it ethical to track animals in this way for tourists' pleasure? Or is it simply
justified to see the male lion at any cost, having paid a significant amount for a safari
that may represent your only visit to Africa's wilderness? Or does the thought
make you feel uneasy? Would you prefer a cheetah to be in an area
“natural” enough to be able to “evade” a game viewing vehicle if it so
chooses? A few arguments can be made. One could argue
that such actions would detract from the “wildness” of the game experience and
that it is the search and tracking that add excitement and magic to game viewing. In such
cases it seems that a sighting is a combination of luck and the ranger’s knowledge of
the signs, spoor, patterns and behaviour of the animals. It thus encourages travellers to
learn about the ways and habits of wild animals and fosters respect for nature. If game
can easily be located at any time, game viewing becomes a zoo-like experience…
Some may also argue that reserves are sanctuaries and that the
animals should be able to roam as freely and as naturally (unaffected by human activity)
as is possible within a managed ecosystem.
On the other hand, much of Africa is today being conserved and many wildlife areas
protected because of the economic value of tourism. The continued economic viability of
parks and reserves is in many cases the reason that these areas and wildlife remain
protected. It follows then that guaranteeing that tourists see the "big five",
by whatever means, makes sound economic and business sense and is consequently justified -
or is it?
There are no ready answers; only opinions. Add your opinion!
If you'd like to register your view, please click here
or vote on our online
survey.
|
| Feedback from our readers:
"Maybe people who go on safaris ought to be prepared for "failure"
instead of guaranteed sightings. It does make the whole experience
much more exciting if you know that you see animals because you
deserve it: using patience, ranger skills, reading the environment.
People shouldn't just want to "consume" a safari but take this
opportunity to learn something about nature and wild life. On my
first safari, I wanted to see as many animals as possible in a short
time, but I soon realized it was just as exciting NOT to see the
announced leopard, thinking that maybe He could see us! I will be
going back soon, and I just want to enjoy the wild life and see what
it has in store for me. Collaring for research and conservation is
probably Ok, but it should definitely be restricted to that."
Mary Blanchard, France
Having worked as a wildlife researcher in Zimbabwe's beautiful
Hwange National Park, I know just how difficult it is to put radio
collars on animals, particularly the spotted hyenas which I was
studying. It takes a lot of time, money, and mostly experience of
knowing animals behaviour, in order to get a radio collar
successfully on an animal. This should only be done for the
conservation of the animal in question and should never be done by
tour operators, who very often have no ethics where pleasing their
paying clients are concerned. Giving tour operators radio tracking
equipment would put wild animals wide open to abuse. Animals need
certain times of the day or night to rest not be disturbed by
tourists, they need the freedom to hunt, mate or find dens without
vehicles harassing them for the sake of a photograph. Rather, let
the researchers occasionally take sensitive visitors out to track
animals where the situation is controlled and the observations add
to scientific data.
Julia Salnicki, Australia
Results from our newsletter pole:
Should we be able to track radio collared animals for game viewing
purposes? Let us know what you think...
| Yes - I've paid for the safari - I'll do
whatever I can to see the best game |
0.00% |
| No, its unethical |
28.57% |
| No, it would ruin the game experience |
71.43% |
| I don't know |
0.00% |
|
|
