Eminently Eve
“Why are game parks expensive? Why should we pay as locals when we visit game parks?”
Each time I’m asked these question (which by far, are the questions I get asked more than any other travel related questions), I find myself lost on exactly how to respond because the answer is not just a single statement. It involves a number of elements and that is why I have decided to dedicate a whole article so that we can discuss some of the major factors.
The logic most have used with me as to why they believe game parks should be free to locals or at least their entry fees fixed at certain prices was mainly that nature takes care of itself. “It’s not like these game park owners create these animals! They just breed on their own” I’ve been told. I believe these sentiments are because information on game park projects is not readily available so we do not fully appreciate what goes into them. In terms of return of investment, breaking even is the best best case scenario for most parks, otherwise, losses are the order of the day in this industry.
*Please note that the scope of this article is wildlife management, it therefore does not include the hospitality aspects.
1. Fencing
Before one even begins to think about where to get the animals, fencing is the first one to get sorted out. This stage of the project is highly costly as it requires kilometers of fencing depending on how big the game park is. In the category of the small game parks I have visited so far, the average size is 20km plus. At least 12 – 14 strands of high strain galvanised wire will be required as the minimum height for plains game is 1.8m. In a game park of that size about 7000 treated gum poles will also be required. Most game fences have to be electrified so a certain number of strands in the fence will have to be electrified – usually around half of the total number and those will then have to be insulated by having insulators fitted to each and every post.
2. Electrification of fence 24 hours/7 days a week
A 24 hour supply of energy is required to make sure that the fence is electrified every second of each day. This is a requirement so that the animals stay safe in the park. Leaving the fence unelectrified increases the chances of animals being poached. Human-animal conflicts with the neighbouring communities will also increase. Most game parks try to use solar power, however, it is unreliable due to changes in weather patterns. Generators are therefore a requirement as a back up plan since the supply by ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company) is not always reliable. The costs of running both are also quite steep.
3. Capturing the animals
One other major expense associated with starting up or running a game park is the capturing of the animals and transporting them to their new home. Just like humans, the process of being captured makes animals feel extremely anxious & nervous. Some may even end up dying just from the stress of being exposed to those circumstances. Some may injure their limbs while trying to avoid being captured or while trying to escape after being captured. The capture process is therefore a highly expensive one which involves professionals such as Veterinary doctors whose area of expertise is wildlife capture or other qualified personnel. In most cases the animals have to be darted and injected with a highly expensive chemical that not only knocks them down but also helps to calm their nerves. Animals like giraffes are some of the most expensive ones to capture and move (in the plains game category) as their necks can easily break if inexperienced people attempt to do the job. Specialized transport is also required to move them due to their height.
4. Releasing the animals
For the release process, the animals are better off released into what is referred to as a boma. This is usually a wooden structure built within the game park and captured animals are released into it so that they are slowly habituated in their new home. The boma is also quite costly to built and logistically demanding. Some factors to consider are safety of the animals. Animals such as bush pigs & warthogs should not be able to dig their way out, and those good at jumping like impala & eland should not be able to jump out. There should also be a constant supply of water and food, among other requirements.
The animals will then start being slowly released out of the boma into a paddock, in which they may be kept for a while until it is deemed safe for them to be released to explore other parts of the game park. Successful breeding is one measure used to determine whether animals have become fully comfortable in their new home, therefore, close monitoring of these animals is required for at least the first couple of years. After which they will be monitored like all the other animal species present in the park.
5. Transporting the animals
Moving the animals from point A to point B is another huge expense park owners go through. Smaller animals are better, however bigger animals like giraffe or elephant are quite complicated and more costly. Special types of trailers are required which ensure that the animals arrive to their new destination intact.
6. Purchasing the animals
Unlike what many may think, that the animals are just breeding and so they are readily available for free; that is usually not the case. When animals are going through stress, maybe as a result of being exposed to too much poaching or drought without enough supplements, breeding rates slow down. This therefore means that there will be a scarcity of animals which can drive the prices of available animals up. Some game parks sell their animals so that they raise funds to meet the demands of running the project. Others sell so that they can buy species that they do not have and add them to their park. Irrespective of the reason, buying animals is a costly exercise.
*Getting the animals for “free”
During successful breeding seasons when animals are in good numbers, some game parks will offer their animals for free, also so that they do not surpass their carrying capacities (- the number of individuals within a species that can be supported by the available resources in terms of space, food etc). Some game parks can also get into an agreement to swap the species that they have in large numbers with those that they do not have. The Tsessebe has been a popular species in the swap as it is not so easy to breed due to its specialized diet requirements.
It is important to note that, even though these animals may be given for “free”, the capture, transportation & release expenses are still incurred by the receiving park.
7. Handling poaching
As if setting up the game park is not expensive enough, running a park requires one to deal with poachers and other potential threats on a daily basis. The animals that cost thousands of dollars to capture & transport will be easily poached out. In terms of finances, (which this article is about), that is a big loss which can just happen overnight. In some cases the poachers also break fences for easy access and in other cases they steal it to build their kraals or sell to those who want to make clothing hangers. That means that the fence has to be replaced as soon as it is lost to make sure that no animals escape. Patrolling and protecting a game park requires manpower and that means more costs to the owner.
8. Dealing with fires
Another threat to the game park investment are fires. It is unfortunate that most fires that occur in the bush are caused by humans. Either from dropping cigarettes or starting a braai in undesignated areas and not extinguishing the fire completely. Poles holding up the game fence may end up burning and some animals may even end up dying in the fire if they fail to find an escape route. Machinery such as fire fighter units are therefore a vital requirement to efficiently deal with fires. These fire fighting units are however quite costly.
9. Training personnel
In order to successfully manage the park and curb poaching, deal with fires and make sure that interactions between and among the animal species are healthy – i.e. carrying capacities are being maintained, ticks are under control (among others), experienced personnel are required. These people will have to be well compensated for the immense work they do on a daily basis. Machinery also needs to be maintained and replaced every so often to ensure the smooth running of the park.
10. Comparisons between Zimbabwean game parks & those of other neighbouring countries
Of course I have been asked specifically why entry fees & activities offered at game parks in Zimbabwe are more expensive than in other countries.
Simply put, expenses to run game parks are going to vary from game park to game park and most certainly from country to country based on how readily available raw materials required to run the park are & how costly it is to acquire them. Being that in Zimbabwe we import most of our raw materials & equipment, our rates are inevitably going to be relatively higher in some cases. However, if we travel more and encourage one another to travel (so that these destinations are fully booked for the most part), that may start to cushion the expenses the parks incur and may result in rates becoming relatively lower.
At the end of the day, we need these game parks to continue existing as they are playing a major role in conserving our wildlife. We therefore owe it to our children & grandchildren to continue visiting these parks so that we financially support them.
I hope this article shed some light on what exactly we are paying for when we leave money at game parks. I like to look at it as a donation towards conservation rather than a payment 🙂
Remember to always have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature
