■^ sport and Nature in Germany 



is gradually increasing to such a satisfactory extent that not 

 only do we find a general interest taken in the wild life and 

 the hunting grounds of our colonies, but we shall also be 

 in a position to introduce adequate measures of protection 

 for this beautiful fauna. 



In our colonies much has been lately done towards 

 clearing up the hitherto hidden secrets of animal life. But 

 if one remembers how many different opinions there are, 

 even amongst authorities at home in Germany, with regard 

 to many of the questions relating to our home fauna, one 

 will pass a more lenient judgment on the many sharp 

 controversies about matters of this kind in the tropics. 



But nothing of value is to be hoped for from con- 

 troversial strife over divergent theories. All men who 

 have acquired expert knowledge on these difficult matters 

 should rather unite in a common task, and strive by co- 

 operation to obtain some adequate result. 



In the wide British colonial possessions In Africa very 

 extensive reservations have been established. In which no 

 one Is allowed to harm the animals. The practice of 

 making exceptions In favour of certain officials has not 

 been found to answer, and has been given up. So now 

 wide districts of British Africa rank as animal sanctuaries. 



In German Africa, too, the authorities have tried, as far 

 as they can, to obtain useful results by similar methods. 

 Unfortunately serious events of many kinds are daily 

 contributing to the diminution In numbers of the fauna 

 of German Africa. Thus the war In South-West Africa 

 Is sweeping away the still surviving stock of wild animals 

 as with an iron broom. 



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