February 2019

Newsletter by Edmond Rouillard (Outfitter) and Niel Uys (Manager):

Dear friends

We trust you are well.

We want to thank each and every one that visited our booth in Reno even if it was just to meet us and to say hello. We enjoy making new friends and seeing old friends again!

 

The 2019 season is around the corner and for those of you that booked with us this year, we are really looking forward to your visit!

 

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

  • 2019 Hunting Season

  • Hunting reports

  • Airlines

  • Latest Rhino stats and facts.

  • Great deals on hunts for the 2019 season

  • New Videos on website

Enjoy!

 

Yours Sincerely

Edmond Rouillard (Outfitter)

1. 2019 Hunting Season

As most of you know, Harloo Safaris is not a BIG outfit that try to push the numbers instead we rather book one group at a time to ensure quality time with our clients. We are very happy with the business we received in this year and we are looking forward to hunt with old and new friends alike!

 

The game at Harloo is in very good condition. We have had excellent rain and it has came down at the right times. There is a lot of feed available for the game and this is the reason for the excellent condition these animals are in. Also, due to the rain and the excellent condition of the game they can breed well and we now have lots of game around. Our Buffalo count is over 200 hundred and we have herds of 80+ animals. See the picture below.

2.  Hunting Reports

Dear friends...  We would like to ask you all a big favour. Marketing is a very costly expenditure and business is tough these days with all the political problems as well as the economy that has its ups and downs.

 

The following email link refers subscriptions@huntingreport.com  Please email these people and ask them to join or go to http://huntingreport.com/enter-hunting-report/ and posts your report online. This where a lot of hunters around the world go and look for good hunting reports to book their next hunts. We would really appreciate it if you can take the time and write something about your experience with us here at Harloo. It does not need to be long as long as it is the facts and something that could sell.

 

Thank you we will greatly appreciate your effort.

3. Airlines

We thought it just to bring the following to your attention if you should fly with Emirates through Dubai. Emirates do take weapons and ammunition or any part thereof on their aircrafts but you need to complete an online document for your weapons as well as ammunition or any part thereof.

 

We had a bad experience this year where they confiscated my bullets that I bought at the SCI show. We always buy bullets from Barnes X at the show to reload for ourselves and Delta Airlines never had an issue with this. This year flying with Emirates they escorted me to the police station inside the airport, made me sign papers and confiscated all my bullets. We missed our flight and had to wait four hours for the next flight to Johannesburg.

 

So please.... when flying with Emirates make sure you know what they allow and not allow and if make sure that you have completed the online documents..

4. Latest Rhino stats and facts

Poaching review and security update: As at December 2018 (KZN and National)

2015 - 1054 rhinos poached country wide

2016 - 162 rhinos poached in KZN

2017 - 222 rhinos poached in KZN

2018 - 142 rhinos poached in KZN

Rhinos poached in KZN in 2018: 142 vs 222 in 2017

Private and community reserves only lost 7 rhinos in 2018.

Country wide statistics: (Not verified) 1013 poached rhinos in 2018 vs 1028 in 2017.

PRIVATE RHINO OWNERS BOOST NATIONAL POPULATION

The number of white rhinos owned by private individuals and communities in South Africa increased significantly between the end of 2014 and the end of 2017 and now represents nearly half of the country’s total white rhino population. Over the same period, 640 white rhinos were poached on private reserves compared to the total national loss of 3 257 animals.

 

The results of a survey into privately-owned rhino in August 2018, indicates close to 7 000 white rhinos on private and communal property at the end of 2017, which represents approximately 46% of the total national herd of roughly 15 200. Since those results the number of privately-owned rhinos has increased. Pelham Jones of the Private Rhino Owners Association (PROA) said if one added the growth in privately-owned white rhino numbers since the end of 2017 and the 450 privately-owed black rhinos, it was safe to estimate that there are currently over 7 500 rhinos in private ownership. This is significant considering that the number of rhinos in many national and provincial parks and reserves are declining.

 

This recent survey, undertaken by the SADC Rhino Management Group (RMG) in partnership with PROA, was the 11th such study done since 1987 and aims to keep track of white rhino numbers in the private sector. Over the 30-year period, the number of privately-owned rhino increased from 813 in 1987, to 7 000 rhinos by the end of 2017. This is evidence of the increasing contribution that private rhino owners make towards the conservation of this species – a species that is near threatened on the IUCN Red List.

 

Dr Dave Balfour, chairperson of the SADC RMG, analysed the survey results and compiled a report for distribution to private rhino owners and to national and international conservation stakeholders and relevant authorities. Key to this process is the avoidance of commenting anywhere in public on the details of a property or a province to ensure that information provided does not compromise the security of an individual rhino population or owner.

 

ESCALATING SECURITY COSTS 

The survey also indicated a substantial increase in the cost of security measures implemented by owners to protect their rhinos against poachers. Since 2014, the security cost per rhino per year escalated over four-fold from R6 000 to R28 000 and while there is no doubt that security costs have increased substantially, Dave cautioned that these results need to be understood properly and recommended that further detailed studies be undertaken. “A more detailed break-down through a follow-up survey would be very valuable for the sector to convey clearly and accurately what they are contributing.” 

 

Dave also noted that the results would be very useful in advancing the interests of PROA members, as they would enable them to accurately present their contribution to rhino conservation in the country. “A consequence of the increasing security costs is that smaller populations are likely to ‘close shop’ and that ownership will consolidate in larger operations,” he said. Based on this information, it is estimated that from 2009 to 2017 private reserves have spent over R2 billion on rhino security and conservation management.

 

According to Dave many owners believe the state does not support them in protecting their herds nor does it provide other incentives to compensate private rhino owners. He comments that although direct support from the state is difficult to assess, it is important to recognise that other support structures are in place that benefit rhino owners. These include participation in working groups, national and international marketing by the Department of Tourism to promote ecotourism, support in establishing the RhODIS forensic facility that collects and captures rhino DNA information into a database, and multiple anti-poaching initiatives. “Support from the state should be sought through constructive engagement and the active participation of private rhino owners in surveys such as this one,” he said.

 

RANDS FROM RHINOS

One of the survey questions dealt with the economic value of rhinos, including sales, hunting and tourism activities. The results provided a mixed response depending on individual circumstances and location of rhino owners. The majority of respondents indicated that they did not sell any rhinos during the past three years (2015 to 2017). The reason for this is probably that the going price has dropped significantly although accurate figures are hard to obtain. 

 

Owning and looking after rhino is not for the faint of heart. Dave believes most owners continue attempts to generate revenue from their rhino. “They live in hope that poaching will decline over the next period and that there will then, again, be a vibrant market. Some owners are consolidating their herds into larger populations, probably hoping for opportunities to trade and operate commercially in rhino products in the long term. However, this will require new policies and laws. For this reason, it is important that private rhino owners seek opportunities for increased engagement with government.”

 

Dave does not want to speculate on the future of legal commercial trade in rhino horn. The results of the survey indicate that 85% of respondents support trade and the sustainable use of rhino but not all are convinced that legalising international trade will reduce poaching (14% were undecided and only 1% were against the trade in rhino horn). He encourages those that want to trade to put evidence-based arguments forward in support of their views. “It remains a highly controversial and emotive issue. It is time to move to evidence-based policies and it is the task of rhino owners to provide such evidence.”

 

IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL OPINION

South Africa has a unique wildlife conservation model that allows private ownership of a wide variety of species. This model has produced a remarkable and unparalleled conservation success story. “The results of surveys such as this one among private rhino owners, provide insight into a shifting ownership model in South Africa. PROA is a strong interest group that brings together and represents different interests in rhino conservation, including ecotourism, hunting and possible trade in horn. I encourage the members to identify their common interests and to use those towards developing a common message for the benefit of the group and for rhinos,” Dave said. 

COMMENTS BY PELHAM JONES, CHAIRMAN OF PROA.

A significant problem that we had with the survey, was that there was only a 25% response rate to the questionnaire that was distributed. This resulted in a total population estimate of approximately 4 000 white rhino in private and communal ownership. This is disappointing as it means there is an unwillingness from the PROA members to trust each other and to consolidate their information in a manner that can be used to advance their interests. The figure of approximately 7 000 was obtained through other sources. Therefore, it is less reliable but the best we have. It would be in PROA’s best interests to establish a better system for estimating numbers, trends and communicating this.

 

Survey data is essential to present the needs of owners. We find ourselves in an environment awash with animal rights NGOs (and other self-proclaimed experts) that present arguments based on speculation or emotion. We can only counter this with fact-based arguments when dealing with DEA or at events such as a CITES CoP. PROA thanks all members that participated in the survey and strongly encourages all owners to participate in future surveys. Our deepest gratitude goes to Dr Dave Balfour, chairperson of the SADC RMG, who carried out the data analysis and report writing at no cost.

5. Great deals on hunts for the 2019 Season:

 

CAPE BUFFALO SPECIAL A $7 750

  • Old, hard bossed dagga bull up to 37” spread.

  • Including 3 nights for one hunter, license fees, field staff all included - no hidden fees

CAPE BUFFALO SPECIAL B $9 900

  • Old, hard bossed dagga bull up to 40” spread 

  • Including 3 nights for one hunter, permits, license fees & field staff all included – no hidden fees

CAPE BUFFALO SPECIAL C $12 500

  • Old, hard bossed dagga bull up to 43” spread. 

  • Including 3 nights for one hunter, permits, license fees & field staff all included – no hidden fees

NYALA & KUDU COMBO 

  • Choose any 6 out of the following species total per package deal: Grey Duiker, Warthog, Impala, Blesbuck, Wildebeest, Zebra, Kudu & Nyala 

  • Including 10 days, 9 nights for two hunters hunting 2 on 1 all in for $8 990 

NYALA BULL 

  • $1 100 (expect less than 26”) 

  • $1 900 (expect 26” to 29” realistically)

All bulls will be mature adult bulls.
 

CROCODILES 

  • From $3 100 (9ft), $7 000 (12ft), $13 500 (13, 5 ft.) pending age & size – Up to 15 feet can be hunted  

  • Including daily rate as per brochure  

WE ALSO TAILOR MAKE PACKAGES TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS!

Please ask us about our cull hunt packages Impala from $150, Warthog from $150 and Nyala at $600
 

2020 ROAN SPECIAL 

Hunt an old mature Roan Antelope for only $6700 including 6 days!

  • Trophy fee for Roan bull under 28” $6700

  • Trophy fee for Roan bull above 28” $7700

  • Including 6 days for 1 hunter.

  • Regular price $10 000 and more.

  • Permits, license fees, field staff all included no hidden fees.

  • First come basis. Limited numbers available.

  • See brochure for usual stuff what is in or excluded.

SABLE 

  • Trophy fee for black mature Sable bull up to 40”  

  • Including 3 days for 1 hunter all in for $3 980 

  • Trophy fee for black mature Sable bull up to 42”  

  • Including 3 days all in for $4 690 

NOTE!  
Permits, license fees & field staff all included, no hidden fees on the above specials. On all specials please see our 2019 brochure or website for usual stuff included or excluded as well as our terms and conditions.