Game farming has become an integral part of the agriculture sector in South Africa.

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Wildlife ranch

A private property that utilises wildlife on a commercial basis. To avoid

confusion in this report, we use the term to encompass all categories of

wildlife enterprise, from intensive breeding to extensive ecotourism. This

covers related terms such as game farming and game ranching. A wildlife

ranch may be exempt or open and may include other farming activities such

as livestock and crop production. These latter properties are also referred to

as mixed farms.

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Extensive wildlife ranching

Ranching conducted with limited interference of wildlife species. Animals are

not provided with supplementary food (except perhaps during severe

drought conditions) or veterinary care. Populations are expected to survive

with little to no food subsidy. Included in this are conservancies.

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Intensive breeding

The confinement of wild species in small to medium sized camps or

enclosures, where they are fenced in, protected from predators and

provided with most of, or all their food, water and veterinary requirements.

They are often held in isolation or with few other species, and most

behavioural and ecological characteristics (e.g. breeding and home range

areas) are unnatural and controlled by the rancher. Populations are not self-

sustaining in the short term (i.e. they would quickly die without human

intervention), and because they are not exposed to the processes of natural

selection, animals born in captivity may have a relatively low chance of

survival if released back into the wild. The purpose of these systems is to

produce superior animals for live game sales or trophy hunting, and breeding

may be manipulated to select animals for desirable traits (e.g. long horns,

large body size or multiplication of a colour variant). To avoid inbreeding,

ranchers need to change breeding males every one or two years. Intensive

breeding generally involves high value species

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There is a growing demand for a diversity of species in the Wildlife Ranching and Ecotourism Industry.  

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Farmers have been instrumental in saving a number of wildlife species for example the bontebok, black wildebeest and Cape mountain zebra.

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It is said that the most reliable way of ensuring the future existence of any species lies in attempts to create a monetary value for each of them and that ensures the distribution ande natural increase in their population numbers.

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This motivates farmers to breed small antelope and it is a new trend to breed with Oribi.

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Herbivore species richness and abundance: The abundance of herbivore species occurring on wildlife ranches was assessed and it was found that the least common species were Oribi (Ourebia ourebi), Suni (Neotragus moschatus)and Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest (Alcelaphus lichtensteinii), all of which occurred on <5% of properties.

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Refer to the assesment for more information: An assesment of the economic, social and conservation value of the wildlife ranching industry and its potential to support the green economy in South Africa

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Refer to the auction prices on recent auctions.  - Not posted yet.

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Farmers now breed high value game species under

intensive mangement conditions.

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However there are not much information available

for good husbandry practices for Oribi.

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It is said that Oribi are not water dependent,

but we urge everyone take care of Oribi to provide

them with clean drinking water.

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Research was done about the relocation of Oribi.

There are many examples of unsuccessful atempts. 

 

 

Obtaining permits for oribi are not a smooth process.

The provinces in South Africa have different requirements for a successful application for a permit. 

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We encourage oribi owners to share successful breeding scheme practices with us.  

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One of the success stories for breeding Oribi is to plan housing developments that are environmentally and ecologically sustainable and can serve as refuges for endangered species.

 

In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, grasslands are particularly threatened by land transformation for housing developments. A case study is presented of a housing development, Wedgewood Estate in KwaZulu-Natal that has been developed and managed for conserving grassland habitat and associated species, particularly the endangered oribi. Feedback from the Estate's managers about the development and ecological impact were obtained. Wedgewood is an example of the viability of housing estates as refuges for endangered species and shows that the density and placement of housing and management of the natural habitat are important. It emphasizes the need for reviewing the types and amount of housing development, management of natural habitat, and the rules and regulations they put in place to assure the integrity of the conservancy is preserved. This case study also shows the potential of such ecologically sensitive housing developments as sources of surplus game for translocation, especially in the case of endangered species such as oribi. Read more

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Contact details for provinces - not posted yet

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Willife Insurance expensive for Oribi, due to the high risk - not posted yet

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Wildlife auctions - not posted yet

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What will the effect of the latest change in table 7 of the Animal Improvement Act, Act. No. 62 of 1998 be on Oribi?

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Animal Improvement Act Regulations Amended

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Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Regulations to the Animal Improvement Act have been amended.

Amendments have been introduced to Table 7 dealing with breeds of animals.

Published in Government Gazette 40058, table 7 contains detail on declared landrace breeds, locally adapted and regularly introduced breeds and breeds currently being evaluated.

Link to the announcement made in the National Gazette: Read more

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Table 7 specifies breeds of animals: declared landrace (indigenous and locally developed) breeds, locally adapted and regularly introduced breeds, and breeds currently evaluated. The Animal Improvement Act shall be applicable to all breeds of animals specified in Table 7: Read more

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WILDLIFE SPECIES added to Table 7

• Bontebok

• Blue Wildebeest

• Gemsbok

• Oribi

• Tsessebe

• Roan

• Sable

• Impala

• Springbok

• Blue Duiker

• Red Hartebeest

• Black Wildebeest

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Wildlife Producers Association

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The WPA states that one of their objectives is to establish a Regulating Authority for wildlife in South Africa. On 6 June 2016 the WPA registration was signed by the Registrar.  Read more on the Geo Wild website.  Click on read more for more information about their Mission and Objective  Read more 

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In the Media

Listing of game species in terms of the Animal Improvement Act

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Landbouweekblad artikels

SA Jagters bekommerd oor GM wild 25 Julie 2016

Telersgenootskappe vir wild moontlik 28 Julie 2016

Wildbedryf reg vir rasgenootskappe 18 Augustus 2016

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Wild & Jag

Lees meer uit die September uitgawe van Wild & Jag Tydskrif

Al konstante is verandering

 Met die aankondiging van die departement van landbou, bosbou en visserye dat 12 wildspesies by die lys van mak en gedomestikeerde diere gevoeg is, wat tans onder die Wet op Diereverbetering (Wet 62 van 1998) gereguleer word, het die Suid-Afrikaanse wildbedryf kennis geneem dat dié bedryf aan die verander is.

Kortliks beteken dit wildboere sal met hierdie spesies kan teel deur middel van die identifikasie en gebruik van diere van uitstaande genetiese gehalte ten einde die produksie en prestasie van hierdie diere te bevorder.

Blaai na bl 174 om te lees watter invloed hierdie aankondiging op die bedryf gaan hê, sowel as die invloed hiervan op die jagmark aangesien van hierdie spesies baie gewild onder jagters is. Ons berig ook oor die reaksie hierop vanuit die georganiseerde wild- en jagbedryf se geledere.

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Let us know what you think: contact us

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The following letter circulated between some of the province' gamerangers and farmers:

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We recently had a meeting with the Director: Animal Production from DAFF, Mr Joel Mamabolo, regarding the listing of game species in terms of the Animal Improvement Act (AIA).

 

Mr Mamabolo gave some clarity on the application of the AIA, and how it would affect the listed game species. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to discuss the application of AIA in more detail and would need to have a follow-up meeting for further discussions. However, below is a summary of the key issues that would assist you in responding to the game ranching industry:

 

• The AIA does not replace/ repeal the provisions of NEMBA or provincial acts/ ordinances; however, the legislation aim to complement one another; therefore permits in terms of conservation legislation is still required for activities such as breeding, transport of the specimens, etc.;

• It does not mean that the species is now declared as domestic animals or stock simply because it is listed in terms of the AIA;

• The fact that the species is listed, does not mean that it applies to all specimens of the species. It only applies to the specimens of a person who is a member of a breeders association that has been registered in terms of the AIA; however, the requirements relating to importing into the country and exporting from the country (e.g. genetic material) apply to all specimens of the listed species;

• The purpose of the AIA is to regulate breeding in order to prevent genetic contamination (hybridization), and makes provision for genetic impact assessments.

 

There are still areas of uncertainty that would require clarification during the follow-up meeting; e.g. the AIA makes provision for a specific breed of animal, theoretically would it be possible for a person to then register a colour variant as a specific breed of animal?

 

We will provide more information as soon as we have more clarity.

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Wildlife farming and conservation

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Under what circumstances can wildlife farming benefit species conservation? 

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During this review, it is argued that wildlife farming can benefit species conservation only if the following criteria are met: (i) the legal products will form a substitute, and consumers show no preference for wild-caught animals; (ii) a substantial part of the demand is met, and the demand does not increase due to the legalized market; (iii) the legal products will be more cost-efficient, in order to combat the black market prices; (iv) wildlife farming does not rely on wild populations for restocking; (v) laundering of illegal products into the commercial trade is absent. For most species encountered in the wildlife trade, these criteria are unlikely to be met in reality and commercial breeding has the potential to have the opposite effect to what is desired for conservation. For some species, however, none of the criteria are violated, and wildlife farming can be considered a possible conservation tool as it may help to take the pressure off wild populations.  Read more.

 

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