Aeroplanes and African Fauna
.T HAVE been asked to explain why, at a recent -I- meeting of the Society for the Protection of the Fauna of the Empire, I proposed from the chair a motion deploring the use of aeroplanes in the pursuit of game. Some years ago I had the good fortune to be taken in an aeroplane from Cairo to Tabora, in Tanganyika, where we crashed irretrievably. On account of engine trouble the journey stretched over 22 days, of which only 3I3 hours were spent in the air. This was a misfortune for the immediate object of the trip, which was to fly as quickly as possible from Cairo to the Cape, but good fortune fl om the point of view of seeing Africa. We had seven landings on aerodromes which had been surveyed, and thirteen landings which were forced, and in most cases on unprepared ground in wild country. While the pilots and mechanics were engaged in repairs, I had quite unexpected opportunity of wandering about on *The Editor offers a prize in a competition in connexion with " Narrow Shaves." Details will be found on D. 511.—ED. Spectator) foot in Upper Egypt, in the Sudan and the -Sudd, in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanganyika.
In the relatively few, hours spent in the air I saw lions, elephants, giraffes, very many different. kinds of antelope, rhinoceros, hippoPotamus, ostriches and croco- diles. The only large animals that I did not identify from the air were zebras, but probably this was because their. striped pattern disappears when seen from above at a distance. On the other hand, during the much larger number of hours I spent on the ground, wandering about alone on foot, because I had nothing else to do, I saw only one leopard, a herd of bushbuck, some hyraxes, and two small duikers, some baboons and cercopitheque monkeys. My objection to the use of aeroplanes in the pursuit of game is founded on the experience I have related. Even with aeroplanes in their present state of development, it would be a simple matter to quarter a large area, otherwise so inaccessible as to be almost a sanctuary, to spot and to kill from the air almost any kind of large Animal. In many cases, no doubt, the trophies would be lost, but it was a great surprise to me to find how fre- quently_ in the remotest wilds of Africa a skilful pilot could find places on which he could land and from which he could rise again. A wealthy poacher could get what he wished even in reserves and, having retrieved it, could with- out difficulty take it across customs barriers. A syndicate could make, the poaching of a valuable commodity like ivory a paying concern. Quite certainly, moreover, there would be many cases where animals would merely be Wounded, and the excitement of the adventure would tempt some " sportsmen " to wanton shooting.
An aeroplane, working in concert with a party on the ground and communicating with them by wireless, could wreak much destruction. The game could be found, its position made known to those below, or even driven towards the guns. It is to be'remembered that inevitable agencies are destroying the wild fauna of Africa at an incredible rate. The continent is being traversed by railways and motor roads, and the lakes and rivers, wher- ever navigable, have their steamers and launches. White settlements are increasing and planters very naturally drive away the game from their shambas. Under Euro- pean rule the natives increase in prosperity, and they too attack the game in a much more destructive fashion than that of wandering primitive hunters with primitive weapons. It is now becoming easy and fashionable for wealthy and well-equipped sporting parties to make shooting trips to Africa. If the aeroplane is to be added to the magazine rifle and the motor car, and the wild animals are to be pursued in the few remaining fastnesses left to them, I see little hope of preserving even the remnants of the most interesting fauna of the world. At present Game Wardens find it sufficiently difficult to guard against poaching and to secure that the game regulations are kept with even tolerable strictness. If they have to contend against the range and mobility of aeroplanes, their task will be impossible. I hope that the Government of Africa will agree to refuse shooting permits to those who 'propose to employ aeroplanes. I may add that I proposed the motion, which was carried unanimously, with the concurrence of the -President of • the Society and other members of the' Committee who are in favour of " legitimate sport," as well as- of those members who, like myself, no longer shoot and look forward to the time when the camera will wholly replace
Previous page
