Indeed, even though SABS 0331 is thought to be a world first, many of the techniques it describes for the immobilization, capture, care and relocation of wild herbivores are not new. While the ancients obviously did not have helicopters to drive animals into nets, dart guns and tranquillizers to immobilize animals, and huge lorries or even aircraft to transport the animals to their destination, the ancient Egyptians and Romans must have gathered an amazing knowlege of techniques appropriate to their time. The ancient Romans had large collections of imported lions, tigers and leopards, most of which were used in the arenas in gladiatorial and other combats.
Few people realize the sheer size of the South African game farming industry.
This figure does not include dependants. Dr Hym Ebedes, an internationally renowned wildlife veterinarian with more than 40 years experience of wildlife management, is best qualified to comment on this - and also on how SABS 0331 came to be. When I started working with wildlife in 1960, there were only six animal capture teams, because the capture and transportation of wild animals was then something that was only undertaken by the national parks conservation departments and a few game dealers. Farmers had, for many years, been capturing and transporting game on a small scale. For example, the standard technique of transporting springbok in the Free State and Karoo some years ago was to give the animals a tot of brandy, put them into a sack and onto the back of a bakkie, and hope for the best.