GOODWILL HUNTING
WHAT IS GREEN HUNTING?
Green hunting is an opportunity that gives people the satisfaction of hunting without actually harming an animals. It is also a process that is saving Africa's animals from the increasing threat of poaches by misleading them in a number of different ways. The only weapon used in green hunting is a dart gun due to the fact that it cannot harm any animals. It is loaded with a syringe filled with a tranquilizer, that will knock out any animals without any pain.
WHERE AND WHAT IS KWANDWE?
Kwandwe is a private game reserve property and is spread across twenty thousand hectares. Although it is just a short one hour flight from Cape Town in Africa, only those helping in any kind of conservation of animals may visit. There is also an employed qualified vet within the property for the benefit of the wildlifes safety.
WHY IS A QUALIFIED VET EMPLOYED?
The qualified vet is employed purely for the safety of the animals.
HOW MUCH DOES THE HUNT COST?
Each individual cost is valued at a price around $12, 000 - $15, 000 for the 'thrill without the kill.'
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE DRUGS TO TAKE FULL EFFECT?
After being tranquilized, the animal will take around twenty minutes to fully fall asleep. In the mean time, everyone watches and waits.
WHY ARE THE ANIMALS AT RISK EVERYTIME THEY ARE DARTED?
The first vital step to the green hunting process it getting a good shot on the animal, and you need to be aware that you are always putting the animals life at risk.
WHY ARE MICROCHIPS INSERTED INTO THE RHINO'S HORN?
The whole process of green hunting takes about an hour, and in this case, while the rhino is unconsious, microchips are inserted into their precious horns. This is done to to discourage and mislead poachers from killing the beautiful animals and cutting off their horns.
HOW MUCH ARE HORNS WORTH ON THE BLACK MARKET?
Rhinoserous horns are sold for a mind blowing half a million dollars on the black market. It has been scientifically proven that rhino horns are just part sof the skeleton, and anyone who buys them could practically be buying their own fingernails.
HOW MANY ANIMALS WOULD BE SHOT EACH NIGHT BEFORE GREEN HUNTING?
Sometimes over 200 per night.
WHY IS GREEN HUNTING CONTROVERSIAL?
Not everyone likes the tought of green hunting and many see no value in it. South African RSPCA workers beleive that those green huntinhg the animals are not true conservationists and don't always handle the animals correctly, this can also lead to bigger problems, as well as the fact that is an animal is tranquilized too frequently, they can have eefects on their livers and other organs within their bodies. They say that this shouldn't be used to entertain people.
Although with all of the money that has been put into green hunting, these funds have only been put into anti poaching organisations that occur twenty four hours per day. And with the fact that Elephants and Rhino's have never been more endangered, anti poaching has become a big thing.
DO YOU THINK THAT GREEN HUNTING IS AN EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION STRATEGY? WHY?
I beleive that green hunting is an effective conservation stratagy although at the same time is animal crualty. The fact that it is making so much money which is being put into anti-poaching organisations is an extremely good thing for all of the endangered animals in the world. Although hunting animals should not just be entertainment for us humans.
