"After the upcoming surveys, we will be in a position to estimate numbers and distribution and start a program of protection, conservation and possibly captive breeding," Professor van Hoven writes, going on to note that financial support for all this is badly needed. Details on how to contribute are available on the foundation's web site, he says. The address is: www.kissama.org.
In our e-mail to van Hoven, we asked him about reports we have heard of a South African hunting company called African Dream Safaris, owned by Jan and Boetie Schoonbee that has been offering giant sable hunts at $500/day, 10-day minimum, plus a trophy fee of $20,000. "I have no idea what the brothers Schoonbee planned to hunt, but I know they have not been near the Malange Province and never will be," van Hoven writes. "The hunting crowd should be warned not to deal with them."
Here at The Hunting Report, we'd like to hear from anyone who can provide more details on the Schoonbees, as offering giant sable hunts at this time creates the possibility of bad publicity for hunters. On another matter, we still have copies of that well-received book on the giant sable, called A Certain Curve of Horn by John Frederick Walker. More than 100 subscribers have already bought copies. Cost is $26, plus $5 shipping in the US; $10 elsewhere. You can read a review on our web site (www.huntingreport.com), and buy a copy there. Or call us at: 800-272-5656.
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