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Spatial variation in trophy quality of popular hunted ungulate species in South Africa

Adatabase of approximately 9000 trophy measurements of ungulates hunted in South Africa
between 1993 and 2001 was analysed in order to detect species-specific, regional variation in
mean trophy quality. Blesbok (Damaliscus dorcas), eland (Taurotragus oryx), impala
(Aepyceros melampus), kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), mountain reedbuck (Redunca
fulvorufula) and springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) showed statistically significant
variation in trophy quality. A number of other species including blue wildebeest
(Connochaetus taurinus), black wildebeest (Connochaetus gnou), bushbuck (Tragelaphus
angusticeps), common reedbuck (Redunca redunca), gemsbok (Oryx gazella), red
hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) and waterbuck (Kobus
ellipsiprymnus) were insignificant. The manipulation of trophy quality on ranches is speculated
to be the major cause of these significant regional variations. It is recommended that
species-specific baselines of trophy quality and associated levels of ‘acceptable manipulation’be
established and incorporated into a national trophy quality monitoring programme to
provide some level of protection to an industry that contributes significantly to the South African
economy.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:tut/oai:encore.tut.ac.za:d1000760
Date01 April 2008
Creatorsvon Brandis, RG, Reilly, BK
PublisherSouthern African Wildlife Management Association
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
FormatPdf
RightsSouthern African Wildlife Management Association
RelationBioOne Research Evolved

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