For further information contact the Communication Manager, Musa Mntambo, on 083 284 9586/033 845 1743 or e-mail mntambom@kznwildlife.com
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s management has expressed its disappointment at the concerns raised by certain animal rights groups over the hunting tender that Ezemvelo is facilitating on behalf of the impoverished community of KwaMduku.
The hunt will take place at Makhasa Community Reserve and not at Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park as has been widely reported by some media houses.
Makhasa Community Reserve is a 1500 hectare reserve which has existed for many decades ago. It now has an array of animals like Buffalo, Rhinos, Giraffes, Zebras, and Kudus which have been introduced by Ezemvelo since 1994.
Mduku Community, a rural community near Mkhuze, owns Makhasa Community Reserve and the proceeds from the hunt will be used by the Community to improve the management of their Reserve.
Ezemvelo will not benefit from the proceeds of the hunting tender.
Ezemvelo CEO, Dr Bandile Mkhize said that “It is unfortunate that such an outcry is only raised when the hunt stands to benefit the poor rural community of KwaMduku. The animal rights groups have been quiet through out the year when 23 rhino hunting permits were issued to private game reserves, but are up in arms when such permits stand to benefit the poor black community.”
He further stated: “We cannot fold our hands when the reserves managed by various communities request our assistance. We will continue to support such community reserves as most of them are adjacent to our Protected Areas.”
Ezemvelo has spent more than R14 million on projects that are aimed at uplifting mainly the communities adjacent to its reserves. Ezemvelo co-manages 26 community reserves with mainly rural and poor communities.
KwaZulu-Natal Province is amongst the three Provinces that managed to reduce the incidents of rhino poaching last year (2011). Only 34 rhinos were poached in the province, of which 27 were poached in protected areas. 39 Rhinos had been poached in the province in 2010, of which 32 had been poached in the protected areas.
This proves that the strategies introduced last year, which included improving relations with the communities around our reserves, have been successful.
W/P Media Release No. 30 Ezemvelo gives back to the community
