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Predation Management SA (PMSA) plays a key role in coordinating efforts to tackle the problem of the predation of livestock and wildlife in South Africa. The organisation is represented by four member industries: the National Wool Growers’ Association, the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, Mohair South Africa, and Wildlife Ranching South Africa.
PMSA recently met with the Predation Management Centre at the University of the Free State to discuss a coordinated approach to research projects. The aim of this collaboration is to convey efficient and professional communication of the programme to stakeholders.
By coordinating research efforts, PMSA can offer more holistic solutions to predator problems and ensure these solutions are applied effectively.
During PMSA’s fourth annual general meeting, chairperson Niel du Preez delivered a report on the activities of the past year. The meeting focused on issues affecting the industry, including the need for accredited hunters.
PMSA played an important role in obtaining annual permits for hunters in the Eastern Cape, which is crucial to control livestock predation.
Co-operation with South African National Parks has also been built on to ensure shared responsibility when animals from national parks end up on farms. This co-operation ensures that predation in border areas is effectively managed and conflict between farmers and conservation authorities is reduced.
Predation forum
The Predation Management Forum meets annually and includes all provincial predation forums, conservation authorities, predation specialists, the state, and other stakeholders.
A very important issue raised by the Northern Cape Predation Forum at the recent meeting is the issue of warthogs being declared predators. These animals eat lambs, causing huge economic losses for farmers.
Warthogs also destroy infrastructure like fences, which complicates the fight against other predators, including caracal.
This issue highlights the complex nature of predator management and the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches to develop effective solutions.
Priorities and training
PMSA is dedicated to providing training to stakeholders to manage predation in a sustainable way. The emphasis will be on multidisciplinary research that not only concentrates on the prevention of predation, but also investigates its impact on ecosystems and farm communities.
By building on the existing research partnerships and developing new solutions, PMSA strives to find a sustainable balance between the protection of livestock and wildlife and the conservation of predators within South Africa’s complex ecosystem.
With the support of all its members, partners and the wider community, PMSA will continue to develop innovative and effective approaches to predation management.
Email Bonita Francis, PMSA secretariat, at [email protected], or phone 041 365 5030. Email Corine Steyn, company secretary and manager liaison at RPO, at [email protected], or phone 012 349 1102.
