At this writing, it is unclear just how the conflict is going to be resolved. But make no mistake - the matter has become grave indeed. One report reaching us says SCI has threatened to bar the sale of Tanzanian safaris at the upcoming convention if the trophies aren't released. The consequences of that would be unthinkable, not just for Tanzania but for the individual operators there as well, not to mention Safari Club itself. Stay tuned.
The conflict over unshipped trophies in Tanzania is not the entirety of the van der Meulen fiasco, of course, as there are also clients out there who have made deposits or full payments on safaris that have not been conducted. Up to now, van der Meulen had been promising these booked clients that their hunts would indeed be carried out. Now, according to copies of letters we have received, van der Meulen has simply bowed out of the hunting business altogether and sold his company to a South African couple by the name of Brian and Di Hundley. He concurrently signed a "restraint of........(continued)
