Tracking White Hunters' Relationship with Nature in Eastern and Southern Africa Since Colonial Times by Elana Theunissen Submitt
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Tracking white hunters' relationship with nature in Eastern and Southern Africa since colonial times By Elana Theunissen Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Hereditatis Culturaeque Scientiae (Heritage and Cultural Tourism) Faculty of Humanities Department of Anthropology and Archaeology University of Pretoria Supervisor: Professor C. C. Boonzaaier Co-supervisor: Doctor H. Wels April 2017 © University of Pretoria DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA The Department of Anthropology and Archaeology places great emphasis upon integrity and ethical conduct in the preparation of all written work submitted for academic evaluation. While academic staff teach you about referencing techniques and how to avoid plagiarism, you too have a responsibility in this regard. If you are at any stage uncertain as to what is required, you should speak to your lecturer before any written work is submitted. You are guilty of plagiarism if you copy something from another author’s work (e.g. a book, an article or a website) without acknowledging the source and pass it off as your own. In effect you are stealing something that belongs to someone else. This is not only the case when you copy work word-for-word (verbatim), but also when you submit someone else’s work in a slightly altered form (paraphrase) or use a line of argument without acknowledging it. You are not allowed to use work previously produced by another student. You are also not allowed to let anybody copy your work with the intention of passing if off as his/her work. Students who commit plagiarism will not be given any credit for plagiarised work. The matter may also be referred to the Disciplinary Committee (Students) for a ruling. Plagiarism is regarded as a serious contravention of the University’s rules and can lead to expulsion from the University. “Tracking white hunters' relationship with nature in Eastern and Southern Africa since colonial times” I, Elana Theunissen (29449792) hereby declare that: 1. I understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the University’s policy in this regard. 2. I declare that this dissertation is my own original work. Where other people’s work has been used (either from a printed source, Internet or any other source), this has been properly acknowledged and referenced in accordance with departmental requirements. 3. I have not used work previously produced by another student or any other person to hand in as my own. 4. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work. © University of Pretoria ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The successful completion of this research would not have been possible without the support, advice, invaluable information and encouragement of others. I would like to thank and show appreciation to the following: First and foremost I am thankful to God for blessing me and giving me the opportunity to further my studies. Without His graces this study would not have been possible. My principal supervisor, Prof. C.C. Boonzaaier (University of Pretoria) for his meaningful assistance, tireless guidance, invaluable suggestions and patience. I cannot express enough gratitude for his support and encouragement that helped me to keep everything together! My co-supervisor, Dr H. Wels (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) for his guidance, advice and input. Jan de Man, chairman of the Vaal Triangle branch of the SA Hunters & Game Conservation Association, for his support with the fieldwork as well as the knowledge and information shared relating to matters of this study. Magriet Bezuidenhout for her comments, suggestions and her effort in editing this study. I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the people I interviewed for this project, also those who completed the questionnaires. Thank you for volunteering your time, thoughts and stories to help me gain a deeper understanding of the topic at hand. Finally, I must express my very profound gratitude to my parents, family members and friends for providing me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout my years of study. I am thankful for and appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you! © University of Pretoria ABSTRACT This study discusses the way in which hunters perceive and relate to nature and wildlife. Using the qualitative data analysis technique, the study examines how culture, attitudes, perceived nature connectedness and actions toward nature reflect certain characteristics, which makes it possible to establish the type of relationships that hunters have with nature. Known for their popular hunting grounds and historical character, the study draws on examples from Southern and Eastern Africa. Specific value dimensions and wildlife orientations were applied to establish the different types of hunter-nature relationships. Historically, colonial hunting practices (which differed considerably from that of indigenous communities who intermingled freely with wildlife, and conserved their resources according to their cultures) are synonymous with large- scale slaughtering, disregard for natural environments and the extinction of wildlife species. Viewing nature and humans as separate entities meant that hunters had a need to dominate and control nature. Since then, post-independence hunters’ relationships with nature have gradually transformed to support a more integrated understanding of connecting and communicating with nature. Keywords: nature, relationship, hunter, wildlife, values, connectedness © University of Pretoria Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 1. Background ............ ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….........1 2. Significance of study ..................................................................................................................... 5 3. Research objectives ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10 4. Geographical focus ................................ …………………………………………………………………………………11 5. Demographic information ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..12 6. Research design and method……………………………………………..………………....................................12 6.1. Data Collection……………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….….14 6.1.1. Internet……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14 6.1.2. The questionnaire……………………………………………………………………………………………..15 6.1.3. Written media and face-to-face interviews……………………………………………………….16 6.1.4. Sample size……………………………………………………………………………………………………….17 6.2. Data analysis ...................................................................................................................... 18 6.3. Objectivity and subjectivity in research ........................................................................... 20 6.3.1. The researcher…………………………………………………………………………………………………..20 6.3.2. Participants………………………………………………………………………………………………………..20 6.4. Study constraints…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..21 6.4.1. Colonial era……………………………………………………..……….…………………………………………21 6.4.2. Post-independence era………….……………………………………………………………………………22 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ... …………………………………………………………………………………………………24 1. Nature and culture………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………24 2. Attitudes toward nature……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..26 3. Connectedness to nature ............ ……………………………………………………..…………………………………………27 4. Motivations for hunting………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………….28 5. Colonial hunters…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……32 5.1. Background……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………….…32 5.2. Nature affiliation……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..34 6. Post-independence hunters…………………………………………………………………………………………………………36 6.1. Background………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....36 6.2. Nature affiliation . ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………37 7. Environmental concern and conservation ……………………………………………………………………………………39 © University of Pretoria CHAPTER 3: HUNTING IN COLONIAL AFRICA…………………………………………………………………………………….43 1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………47 2. Phases of colonial hunting……………………………………………………………………………………………………………47 2.1. Background……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..47 2.2. Primary exploitation of big game…………………………………………………………………………………….49 2.3. The settler-hunter……………………………………………………………………………………………………………52 2.4. Game control…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..52 2.5. Emergence of sport hunting ..... ………………………………………………………………………………………53 3. Relationship with nature .... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………54 3.1. Hunters’ accounts ................................................................................................................ 54 3.2. Determining a relationship with nature............................................................................... 60 3.2.1. Wildlife ........................................................................................................................ 69 3.2.2. The natural environment ............................................................................................ 73 3.3. A Spiritual relationship ......................................................................................................... 75 3.4. Nature and the senses ......................................................................................................... 78 3.5. Ethical concerns ................................................................................................................... 81 4. Colonial