|
Post by bula on Oct 3, 2021 9:37:27 GMT -5
I've never had the Africa itch. Where I'm going with this is, I see the ads on TV to SAVE ! the elephants. Hunters, poachers blamed as usual it seems. So, to those of you that have been there or have an understanding of this situation, Explain please. I was under the impression that elephants need vast areas, square miles not acres to thrive. They destroy the habitat as they go so they need to be able browse on away so the damaged area can regenerate. Yes ? As they run out of food, other species affected and only more area will fix it if you want to maintain the population level or grow it. "Saving" animals only seems to me to make the problem worse without more area to feed. Correct ?
|
|
pleadthe2nd
.327 Meteor
Enter your message here...
Posts: 881
|
Post by pleadthe2nd on Oct 3, 2021 13:09:14 GMT -5
I have not done the African thing, but your logic makes complete and total sense to me.
|
|
|
Post by taffin on Oct 3, 2021 13:33:21 GMT -5
I've never had the Africa itch. Where I'm going with this is, I see the ads on TV to SAVE ! the elephants. Hunters, poachers blamed as usual it seems. So, to those of you that have been there or have an understanding of this situation, Explain please. I was under the impression that elephants need vast areas, square miles not acres to thrive. They destroy the habitat as they go so they need to be able browse on away so the damaged area can regenerate. Yes ? As they run out of food, other species affected and only more area will fix it if you want to maintain the population level or grow it. "Saving" animals only seems to me to make the problem worse without more area to feed. Correct ? THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN THE LAST QUARTER OF THE 19TH CENTURY. THE BISON HAD TO GO ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL THE INDIANS AND OPEN AREAS TO SETTLEMENT.
|
|
|
Post by bula on Oct 3, 2021 14:53:42 GMT -5
Well then, sending money to a "charity" to save elephants that the Gov't doesn't want is particularly futile. You will get a picture of "your" personal elephant..so there is THAT ! LOL.
|
|
tomc
.30 Stingray
Posts: 126
|
Post by tomc on Oct 3, 2021 15:18:21 GMT -5
The only places African Elephants are endangered are those Countries that do not allow hunting. Like you said, the habitat can only support so many of them before they destroy all the food. Also, hunting puts a value on the animals. Without value the locals kill them for things like crop raiding ect.
|
|
|
Post by bula on Oct 3, 2021 15:27:16 GMT -5
Thank You. The commercials are misleading to say the least. But the celebs look good.
|
|
|
Post by leftysixgun on Oct 3, 2021 16:49:56 GMT -5
Thank You. The commercials are misleading to say the least. But the celebs look good. And the celebs will always look good.....🤔 marketing.....
|
|
|
Post by matt56 on Oct 3, 2021 19:54:41 GMT -5
Interesting how there’s 2 sides to every story, who would have thought? I saw this commercial the other day, it’s just anti hunting propaganda as always.
|
|
|
Post by Ken O'Neill on Oct 4, 2021 8:40:05 GMT -5
The damage elephants do to trees is almost unbelievable.
|
|
tarbe
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 33
|
Post by tarbe on Oct 4, 2021 17:05:38 GMT -5
The damage elephants do to trees is almost unbelievable. No kidding. I hunted Cape Buffalo in the BVC (Zimbabwe) in 2019. It was near the end of a two year drought. The Elephant were wrecking stuff big time. One day we drove out of camp to hunt an area south of us, returning the same way about 6 hours later to grab some lunch. During that interval of time, a large tree had been felled across the road. Elephants knocked it over to get at the last 5 pounds of somewhat green vegetation up near the top. We estimated that tree at 50 years old. And this was going on, daily, all over the 800,000 acres. A 50 year old tree killed for 5 pounds of leaves. Elephant being Elephant.
|
|
rWt
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,438
|
Post by rWt on Oct 4, 2021 17:18:11 GMT -5
And, in certain areas the local population is clear cutting everything for -at best-subsistence farming. So, another reason for habitat loss. When I hunted in Zimbabwe in 1995, it was estimated that there were far too many elephant in Zimbabwe for the existing habitat, while in surrounding countries they were an endangered species.
|
|
|
Post by 470evans on Oct 4, 2021 17:26:29 GMT -5
I'm a firm believer that sustainable hunting is a smart use of natural resources whether here in the US or overseas.
We have seen many occurrences where some of the highest concentrations of mega fauna in the world are today devoid of any large animals outside of a few shrinking national parks. Places like India and East Africa where hunting was banned are a warning to us what happens when sustainable hunting is outlawed.
Botswana recently reopening it's hunting has given me a glimmer of hope.
In a counter intuitive manner the animals insure their own survival. It's a battle that is sadly being lost as it's very easy for the animal rights people to play on people's emotions
|
|
rWt
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,438
|
Post by rWt on Oct 4, 2021 17:52:30 GMT -5
Then there is the unauthorized hunting, or poaching. At least in Zimbabwe in 1995, a fair amount of the trophy fee for a Cape Buffalo went to the local tribe as an incentive not to poach. Plus, all the meat except for the back straps went to the tribe. We saw tracks of a Buffalo dragging a poaching wire.
Add the positive employment impact--trackers, camp staff, outfitters, professional hunters, etc.
|
|
|
Post by bula on Oct 6, 2021 7:42:43 GMT -5
So, a problem that donations to a charity 5000 miles away( guess) in a 3rd world country is NOT going to solve, except a few local gov't types retirement fund.
|
|
|
Post by bula on Oct 8, 2021 9:18:17 GMT -5
Enlightenment has been achieved. On to recipes ! Were gonna need a bigger wok...
|
|