Information from hunters and safari operators Professional hunters and safari operators spend a lot of time in the field observing wildlife, even getting to know particular herds and individuals. Their experience and information is invaluable for estimating wildlife populations, and especially important for species that occur in moderate numbers, such as wildebeest, sable, waterbuck, lion, and leopard, for which aerial surveys are of limited use. Each village development committee produces a sketchmap of its area, marking landmarks such as rivers, hills, and roads. Village development committees from neighbouring villages check that the same animal groups are not counted twice. Then the numbers of each species are added up to give an indication of how many animals are normally resident in the village environs.
Information ranges from simple sightings to formal game counts and surveys.
Once populations have been estimated, sustainable harvesting quotas can be set. Quotas are determined for local conditions, bearing in mind the carrying capacity of the local environment, and making allowances for the different uses of wildlife. At present quotas are issued by the Department of National Parks, although local communities are being trained and empowered to develop the capacity and experience to set their own quotas in the future. In order for hunting to be sustainable, the quota for each species must be based on offtake rates that take into account the population dynamics and use of the species in question. For example, a hunting quota of ten mature buffalo bulls is based on the assumption that every year ten young bulls will become mature enough to be categorised as trophy males.