Feasibility Study of Proposed Tourism Dev in Shewula, NE ...

4.4. PROBLEMS
This section presents information about the problems which members of the
community perceive to be associated with the initiatives of conservation and tourism
in their area. The classification of the following information as problematic therefore
reflects the beliefs and/or opinions of Shewula residents that the various aspects dealt
with in this section are, indeed, problematic. It is therefore an indication of the
problems which the Shewula people believe they would face as a result of the reserve
and/or a tourism development, and is not a reflection of the researchers' opinions
about whether or not these issues are problems. In some instances, brackets
containing comments and/or responses follow the information that is presented.
These are intended to provide some clarification about certain issues.
The problems identified by the community relate to:
• The establishment of a reserve;
• The proposed tourism development;
• The proposal for an operational model that sees the involvement of a private
operator;
• The process of planning for both of these; and
• The Lubombo Conservancy.
4.4.1. Problems relating to the reserve
a) Incompatibility of cattle and wildlife being kept on the same portion of land The
belief that livestock and animals cannot stay together in the proposed reserve was
raised on numerous occasions. Several members expressed that they knew from
experience that cattle and wildlife 'don't mix' and 'can't go together well'.
b) Effects of poaching activities on the cattle
There is concern about the possible loss of cattle owing to hunting on the reserve.
People said that the cattle could be shot, either by mistake or deliberately (especially if
a hunt is not successful) or the cattle could get caught in snares set for catching wild
animals. Concerns were also expressed that if cattle and wildlife are kept together,
those going to fetch their cattle 'could be having other intentions'. In defence of actions
that could be construed as poaching, one man said that when fetching cattle, it would
be necessary to be accompanied by dogs (which are also used during hunts), so that
if livestock have been killed, the dogs can help to find carcasses.
c) Reintroduction of dangerous game
This is believed to be inadvisable at this stage, but possible in future (see Section
4.5.1). However, if cattle were to be kept in the proposed reserve it was felt that this
would pose a problem to the introduction of lion, since the cattle might be eaten.
d) Ineffectual rangers
Concern was voiced that rangers coming from the community would be ineffectual,
because they would be well known to those living in Shewula, and could be
outsmarted by those who would like to poach in the reserve: 'Even the rangers won't
be able to identify the snares laid by those pretending to collect cattle. They
[poachers/hunters] would fetch the meat and throw it through the fence and get it later: