THE WILD FAUNA OE THE EMPIEE 



53 



Major Stevenson 

 Reserves on 



Hamilton, Warden, Transvaal Game 



OPPOSITION TO GAME EESEEVES. 



Most enterprises, however generally beneficial they may 

 actually be, are apt to meet, from some quarter or another, with 

 opposition of a greater or less degree of intensity ; and the move- 

 ment for the preservation of big game, which may be recognised 

 as the outcome of the increasing protest on the part of latter-day 

 •civilisation against the ruthless and often wanton destruction of 

 some of the fairest works of Nature, is unfortunately in no way an 

 exception. 



It may therefore not be inapposite to examine briefly some of 

 the quarters from which such opposition springs, as well as to 

 enumerate the favourite arguments used in decrying game pre- 

 servation, or, perhaps it should rather be said, game reserves, for 

 few persons are found who will admit, at all events in theory, that 

 they are in favour of the extermination of the Wild Fauna of the 

 Empire. 



As time goes on it becomes more and more clear to anyone 

 having the opportunity to study the matter that in a country such 

 as Africa — especially in those of our possessions there which con- 

 tain, or are in process of acquiring, any considerable population 

 of settlers, amongst whom there cannot fail to be a minority, 

 perhaps a small one, whose consciences do not prick, to any 

 appreciable extent, when the matter of evasion of game protective 

 ordinances is in question — laws of this nature, however carefully 

 framed and however excellent in themselves, are of little avail 

 unless they can be practically enforced, and this can only be done 

 in a wild or a semi-wild country by the setting aside of areas in 

 ■which killing of game is absolutely prohibited, in which traffic can 

 be regulated, and which are of a sufficient size to allow for the 

 annual migrations or changes of pasture of the animals contained 

 in them. Those areas must be suitably guarded by an adequate 

 Staff of officials, whose duty it must be to see that the terms of the 

 regulations are complied with. Above all things, no exceptions 

 should be permitted, such as allowing privileged persons to shoot 

 within them, as this, by arousing discontent among the less 

 favoured portion of the population, is pretty sure in time to work 

 havoc with the scheme. 



