Thesis (MTech. degree in Nature Conservation ) - Tshwane University of Technology, 2004. / It was investigated whether long term trends in the quality of trophy ungulates hunted in
sub-Saharan Africa can be used to monitor the status of those populations. The
philosophy of the underlying assumptions are discussed and weighed against the absence
of population monitoring techniques in countries exhibiting poor socio-economic
conditions. A database of approximately 10 000 trophy measurements were analysed on a
spatio-temporal scale in order to define potentially concerning trends in trophy quality
over time. A threshold of potential concern was defined and incorporated into a stochastic
model. In the species-specific analysis, concerning declines were found for Impala,
Springbuck and Mountain reedbuck in South Africa. In the area-specific analysis,
concerning declines were found in Botswana and the Northern Cape province of South
Africa. As a population-monitoring tool this method is cost-effective and requires little
effort however, the lack of statistical sensitivity only provides significant results in
extreme conditions. As an economic indicator, this method allows governments to
evaluate the quality and sustainability of their ‘huntable’ ungulate resources and adjust
hunting quotas accordingly.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:tut/oai:encore.tut.ac.za:d1001049 |
| Date | 23 June 2005 |
| Creators | von Brandis, Rainer |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | |
| Rights | © 2004 Tshwane University of Technology |
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