A recent visit to the Eastern Cape got me thinking that the AHG is well overdue for a full-length feature on what constitutes an endemic, indigenous, or native species. And while on the topic of species, we might as well also cover that of sub-species and color variants. It’s a minefield.
For now, what’s a given is how the diversity of game has shifted enormously, a good deal owing to the hand of man. So, too, has the range and opportunity to hunt this diversity of game. Personally, I feel, that when appreciating nature, be it a tree, bird or game animal - and in our case, hunting the animal – the ideal is where it is naturally found. Even more so when hunting endemic species.
The mountain nyala in Ethiopia is one such animal. This unique endemic animal is on the bucket list of all extremely serious (and dare I add, affluent) hunters seeking the Spiral Nine, or those wanting to tick off the iconic species this continent offers.
In South Africa, brought back from the brink of extinction, is the bontebok.
Numbers were down to 17. Then a small herd of seven was relocated from the Western Cape to an area in the Eastern Cape, way back in the 1950s to help save the species.
Seventy years later, having bred up in numbers, their IUCN status is ‘vulnerable.’ They have been further distributed around the southern and eastern part of the country and authorities work hard to keep the species intact and pure. Bontebok breed extremely easily with their cousin and close relative, the blesbok, so it’s a challenge for the retention of the original pure bloodline.
In South Africa, game breeding has opened an entire industry, and there are mixed blesbok and bontebok– but when you want an authentic bontebok, an original descendant of those seven pure animals and with no problems of being imported to the USA, then the Bowker’s historic family ranch is for sure one place to consider. It has been family owned since 1843, along with neighbor and cousin Kevin Bowker. You can hunt 18 500 acres where you will not see a high fence. It is quite a treat. I am not sure why this animal is not as prized or priced like, for example a dik-dik in Namibia, but it is what it is. Bowker Safaris is offering a bontebok safari, all in, for our next quarter’s subs prize.
Talking of subs prize – what a prize Scott Wolf won… you can see that in the video clip. I am not movie star so forgive the dreadful clip!!
Taxidermy – I have left this point for last, not least because it affects every hunter, and it is an important ‘after-hunt' consideration. Regardless of who you hunt with – be it one of our trusted African Dawn members, or through any one of the 600-plus outfitters that we have on our database and who are mostly great – you have options. However, after the hunt, you should be able to select any taxidermy and trophy solutions business to entrust the handling and processing of your trophies. Some outfitters have a share in a taxidermist who they recommend, some have their own taxidermy operation. The industry is evolving, and transparency is a term we desperately need in this world. Get the facts. I started TTS, an A-Z operation that has your back in Africa for your taxidermy and trophy solutions, pays your hunting outfitter their commission, and is noticeably lower priced than what you may have been used to paying. The international hunter is all-important to us. If we want the hunting industry to prosper, we must remain focused on the mission, which is to promote hunting in Africa.
