by Karen Mehall Phillips - Tuesday, March 8, 2016
You read the headline correctly: Namibia took a giant step forward for hunters yesterday when the country’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism said it will officially oppose any calls to restrict hunting and export wildlife products. Chalk one up for common sense as the Namibian government got around worldwide anti-hunting extremists seeking to stop hunters’ critical conservation efforts—and, in turn, destroy the economic benefits hunters provide.
According to All Africa, the cabinet voted to go on the record as a pro-hunting nation, opposing any and all hunting bans-and to campaign against any bans proposed in the future. Cabinet members were directed to promote the news through public forums and to “communicate at all possible opportunities its importance to national conservation and sustainable development programs.” So let’s help them spread the news!
The Namibian explains the decision is the result of anti-hunters’ opposition to the cabinet’s 2013 decision to sell five black rhino hunts for trophy hunting in efforts to help save the endangered species. You may recall that the rhino taken by American hunter Corey Knowlton in 2014 at a Dallas Safari Club (DSC) event generated a whopping $350,000 for the species’ conservation. It also resulted in death threats for Knowlton and his family, though the rhino taken by Knowlton was an older, non-breeding male specifically selected because of its dangerous, aggressive behavior. The bull would have been culled regardless of Knowlton’s hunt in order to prevent injury or death to the rest of the herd.
In moving forward, the Namibian government is establishing a code of conduct for conservation hunting. It also announces its ongoing support of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism’s efforts to stop wildlife crimes.
Please join NRAHLF.org and outdoor news outlets worldwide as we report the end of hunting bans in Namibia. Tell anti-hunters that their shame, ridicule and mob mentality has no basis in sound judgment and wildlife conservation.