Big Game of Botswana: The Tragic History of a Once Great Southern African Fauna (2024)

Synopsis

Quoting contemporary accounts from hunters, missionaries and traders from the early nineteenth century onwards, this book illustrates the ecology of the country as it was emphasizing its rich large mammal fauna, its decline from increasing aridity of the country, it destruction by hunters, by disease, and most importantly, destruction of its vast herds, notably of wildebeest, due to the developing beef export economy and the erection of veterinary cordon fences depriving the large game of migration routes in times of drought. Once possessing one of the greatest animal displacements in Africa, with huge migrations of antelope, this book underlines the reality that the fauna of Botswana today is but a tiny remnant of what was perhaps once one of the the greatest spectacles of big game on earth. It shows how the decline came about -- and the controls exercised by tribal chiefs illustrating the indigenous peoples’ attitudes, and eventual protective measures both tribal and statutory. Whereas the pessimistic predictions of extinction at the end of the nineteenth century have happily not come true, nonetheless, the continued existence of this once great fauna is increasingly threatened by climate change threatening an already fragile balance, and human population increase with its increasing economic demands and changes in land use. The study fills a gap in the literature of African wildlife conservation and is distinctive by drawing upon a rich historical background.

Copyright:

2024

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

ISBN-13:

9783031600333

Related ISBNs:

9783031600326

Publisher:

Springer Nature Switzerland

Date of Addition:

07/15/24

Copyrighted By:

The Editor

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Science, Animals, Outdoors and Nature, Earth Sciences

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.