Media statement issued by HUNTING LEGENDS INTERNATIONAL
Date: 2012-03-19
HUNTING & CONSERVATION – THE TRUMPS VISIT & HUNT IN ZIMBABWE
Management and staff representing HUNTING LEGENDS INTERNATIONAL, an Africa and USA based international safari hunting company and service provider, has noted the extreme response and perhaps, one-sided reaction from private individuals and “concerned” animal rights activists to a hunting safari organized for the Trumps in Zimbabwe, August 2010.
The company, as part of its commitment to conservation through ethical & sustainable hunting, would like to express its view and state several facts in a bid to address these concerns and eliminate confusion caused by reckless and unsubstantiated allegations.
With reference to the hunt which took place in August of 2010: –
The hunt took place in Zimbabwe in the Matetsi East General Hunting Area – Victoria Falls.
The entire hunt was done strictly according to the laws of the Department of Nature Conservation in Zimbabwe and, as is custom in these Government controlled areas, a staff member of the department escorted the hunt at all times.
The hunt was conducted by a registered Zimbabwean Hunting company as is required by Zimbabwean Law, however Hunting Legends facilitated and booked the Trump hunt.
The hunt was legal and ethically conducted as prescribed by the industry norms and regulations.
None of the animals hunted were on the endangered specie list and all the required hunting permits were issued to the Trump’s by the relevant Department of Conservation authorities in Zimbabwe.
All the required permits were issued well in advance by the relevant Nature Conservation body itself and per quota allocated annually. All the applicable license fees were paid for, as well as the trophy fees & day fees charged by the Zimbabwean Company.
The edible meat went to the Zimbabwe concession holder, their staff and to local adjoining villagers, as is the custom in the area. (NOTE: This hunt took place in the Matetsi `East area, bordering private land of the concession holder and a well known camfire area.)
Furthermore…
The statement or notion that this hunt was sanctioned by the Zimbabwe Government is incorrect and a complete fabrication. The implication of a link between the Government and the Trumps is false and misleading.
This event was a private hunting safari booked and conducted by Hunting Legends International and a registered Zimbabwean Outfitting Company & Concession owner. All processes followed was done legally and through the relevant conservation authorities.
No media group had any permission from the Trumps or us to use any of the photographs that were published on our website.
In conclusion,
HUNTING LEGENDS INTERNATIONAL management and staff state categorically that its business is conducted in a professional manner, strictly in accordance with the laws and principles that regulate the Professional Hunting industry.
In addition to the many conservation projects that the company is involved, funds are regularly set aside for initiatives to support the protection of wildlife, HUNTING LEGENDS INTERNATIONAL is firmly committed to the education of the public about Professional Hunting and its acknowledged role in conservation.
Man’s infringement on the movement of animals continues to impact on wildlife management and the sanctuary of animals. Institutions like National Parks cannot accommodate an ever increasing population of animals and thus overpopulation often burdens the system so they cannot alone, sustain these operations to ensure protection of Africa’s wildlife species.
Many of the game reserves we hunt on today is land which had many years ago been used by settlers as land for farming cattle and crops.
An investment in the future – for man and animals
These farms, many of which have all seen better days, as technology has changed and many of these generations of pioneering farmers have disappeared from the scene, are bought by Game Ranchers like us.
Game Ranchers often rebuild these farms from scratch and change them back into private game sanctuaries. The take down the cattle fences, demolish all the shacks, old sheds and cattle pens and replace cattle, pigs, sheep and goats with all the wildlife, which used to roam there before.
Through proper management they rid these old agricultural farms of alien plants and re-establish the land to its natural condition. For illustration, on one property of 25 000 acres we now once again have more than 4 000 wild animals roaming about freely in unspoilt nature.
These Game Ranchers (like us) sustain themselves financially by allowing trophy hunters to come to our private wildlife sanctuaries (which were bought, paid for, developed and saved from disaster by ranchers like us) and, as stated before, hunt old & mature male animals, which are beyond their prime productive time. They manage animal population extremely scientifically as it is the backbone to all of our businesses.
We all only shoot a specific number of animals every year. We create jobs for local hungry and otherwise unemployed people, we supply meat and accessories to the local communities and we look after our own wildlife sanctuaries as if our lives depend on it – because it does!
END
