IMPERIAL GAME RESERVES.
AVERY representative group of English sportsmen, naturalists, administrators, and explorers met last week at the Society of Arts to hear a paper read by Mr. E. N. Buxton on the preservation of great game, and the creation and management of reserves for their protection. Some of the audience combined more than one, and some of them all, of the capacities mentioned above, as may be seen by the fact that among those who took part in the subsequent discussion were Sir Clement Hill, who now controls the East African Protectorate, Sir Harry Johnston, Mr. F. Selous, Commander Whitehouse, and Sir John Kirk.
Mr. Buxton himself is one of the best-known sportsmen in this country, and is familiar with most aspects of big-game shooting, as well as with the habits and history of the larger animals of the world. He has also been singularly successful in the care of the wild life of Epping Forest and Wanstead Park, both of which have, mainly under his care, become the most remarkable instances in this country of "reserves" of the kind possible in England, quite close to the largest city in the world. A recent visit to East Africa and the sight of the wonderful fauna still remaining along the line of the Uganda Railway are among the matters of personal experience which suggested his remarks. But he has brought the whole question of the present needs and working of the Imperial game reserves up to date. Unfortunately, the necessity for the establishment and vigorous upkeep of these reserves does not diminish with time. The international agreement as to the preservation of great game is practically only enforced by the British. In foreign territory, and in the portions which may still be described as "No-man's- Land," the worst class of so-called sportsmen have things their own way. In Vienna Mr. Buxton saw no less than seventy head of Soemmering's gazelle, all immature males or females, killed by one foreign "sportsman." He also records the dis graceful fact that an Englishman in the new British Pro- tectorate of Somaliland slaughtered thirty elephants, every one of them females or very young niales ; while a certain Count recently boasted Of having killed four elephants in four minutes, all cows or calves. Also the new "pump gun" rifles enable the "'Arrys " among big-game shooters to bombard herds of antelope at long distances, a "hideously destructive and cruel" proceeding. Another reason for looking carefully to the preservation of the fauna of our Central and East African dominions is to be found in the unfortunate effect of the South African War on the rare animals which were left in the Transvaal and Free State. Lord Kitchener's "drives" scattered the few white-tailed gnu and rare antelopes still preserved by enlightened Boers, and the remnants of big game in South Africa suffered generally during the war. The Belgians of the Congo State are credited with being in too great a hurry to squeeze the country dry to preserve the game or arrest its extermina- tion. The need for the regulation of large-game shooting is specially urgent in regard to the African elephants. The figures quoted are most deplorable. In 1887 216,000 worth of ivory was exported from the Cape. In 1901 the amount had fallen to 2567. The corresponding figures for Natal are 218,100 and 279. For British East Africa the figures are still more startling. As late as 189:5 the export value of ivory was 218,252. In 1901 it was 2827, and this, it mist be remembered, represents not the produce of our territory, but what comes through it from the interior. The Congo State exported in 1889 10,000 kilos, in 1898 1,600 kilos. Lastly, at Zanzibar, the main place of outflow, the value fell from 2544,000 in 1891 to 2112,900 in 1898.
It seems impossible to doubt that the number of elephants has been reduced greatly, while the Belgians by their "feverish pressure" on the natives to pay a tax in ivory are further aiding in their destruction. It may be added that the ivory imported into England alone represents a destruction of thirty thousand elephants annually. The characteristic waste of elephant life in Africa may be contrasted with the methods of -Siam, where the elephants are mainly semi-tame, though the greater number roam the jungles, and the ivory is only taken after the animal has died a natural death. Of the largest antelopes, the finest of all in appearance, the greater koodoo, an animal with very large spiral horns, and the well- known eland, are now very scarce, the former being one of the large African mammals most rapidly disappearing.
What has been effected in our Protectorates to arrest the process of extermination is satisfactory so far as it goes. In the East African tetritory two large reserves have been formed, one stretching for two hundred miles by the side of the Uganda Railway, the other near Lake Rudolf. In the Soudan there is a reserve on the right bank of the White Nile, and between that river and the Blue Nile is another, well chosen and favourably placed, as patrolling of both rivers by Govern- ment boats is constant. Besides these special reserves a vast territory west, south, and east of the White and Blue Niles is now closed to outside sportsmen. There are also some small reserves in Somaliland, one of which was intended as a sanctuary for the greater koodoo. But these are too small. That intended for the koodoo is only twenty miles long and ten wide. Turning to results, we find that besides the creation of reserves, the whole of the game of the Fait African Protectorate is benefited by a law, excellently administered by the Protectorate Government, which makes it necessary for every sportsman to obtain a license before shooting, and obliges him to furnish a list of what he has shot, and of the species and sex of each head. It is com- plained that these returns are not always demanded. They ought to be, for they are valuable documents, and place the Government in a position to know- what stock is on the ground. The returns for April, 1903, are very interesting. More than forty species fell to the guns of sixty-eight "public Officers." The bag numbered a thousand and twenty-three head. Apparently lions do not count ; at least, none are mentioned. During the same period eighteen licenses were issued to sportsmen visiting the country. These gentlemen bagged five hundred and four head of thirty species, including five lions. Skin-hunting is absolutely stopped, as the export of hides is not allowed. The result of the measure of pro- tection afforded is already seen. Elands, which were beComing scarce, have somewhat recovered their numbers ; and buffalo are also said to have increased.
Naturally there is considerable room for improving on what has already been done. Small reserves should be made larger while there is time. The reserves should be more carefully kept as sanctuaries. At the same time, there is much to be said for Lord Cromer's contention that his officers, who are doing the State service in the wilds of the Soudan, amid all the depressing surroundings of fever, isolation, and responsibility, must have sport as a compensation ; and that if these gentlemen happen to be stationed on or near one of the reserves, they ought not to be debarred from shooting there. There is no doubt that the officers and public servants on the spot, tied to their work, and to work of such Imperial importance, ought to be considered before strangers coming from a distance, who have all the world to choose from as to where they shall take their amusements. Mr. Butler, the game officer, recommends that in the Soudan no districts shall be specially reserved for officers, but that a smaller reserve shall be made where no one may shoot at all. It is the duty of a game officer to look after game, and no doubt from this point of view Mr. Butler is right. But the public will probably think that the officers deserve the "first cull" on what sport there is in their districts.
To sum up, what is wanted is not to limit, but to increase the reserves, and also, and as a matter of equal importance, to find enough money to enforce the license system and to carry out the law for the protection of the animals. At present there is not enough spare money in East Africa to do this properly. Consequently the Lake Rudolf reserve is scarcely more than a name. But it may be urged with some logic that as we have spent six millions on the Uganda Rail- way, we may as well spend a few thousands on preserving the game of what will be to many Englishmen the most delightful and wonderful region in the world. It is also extremely desirable that the Government should publish an attractive Blue-book, like the Reports of the New York State Game and Forest Commission, showing the whereabouts of the hunting grounds and of the reserves, and giving details about the sport available. The Austrian Government has "boomed" Bosnia and Herzegovina on these lines with the greatest success. The fauna and flora of the Uganda Railway district would soon become a valuable asset by attracting visitors to the new country, and passengers to the new railway.
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