Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/769056
sold nearly their entire herd because caring for their rhinos became too much of a liability—and too dangerous. It was a terribly emotional decision for them in light of all they had done for these great beasts. This year alone they had already lost five rhinos to sophisticated poaching operations. The danger of coming across poachers while out on their property—and the expense of sustaining year-round anti- poaching patrols—simply became too much to bear. Sustainable rhino hunting, which has for so long funded their conservation gemsbok. Wildlife began to pay, and because of this, these animals remain today. In fact, like wildlife populations in the United States, populations in South Africa are arguably healthier than they were in the last century. T am Safaris has its own, much more recent story. Brothers Stephen and Peter Tam own and operate the hunting operation in an area for breeding and caring for a robust white rhino population. Just before we arrived in camp, the Tams had competition with their cattle and sheep. This dangerous mindset began to change as landowners realized they could financially benefit by nurturing game populations and allowing hunters (mostly foreign) to pursue them in a sustainable manner. They found that there were ways to allow wildlife to successfully coexist with ranching and farming. In many cases, landowners were eventually able to move entirely to hunting operations. Domestic animals such as sheep and cattle were replaced by impala, springbok, kudu, wildebeest, and S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S • 175