Pushing for Change | Cable Smith on Cape Mnt Zebra

They say it takes a village to raise a child. The same could be said for conservation. It quite literally takes a collective effort from like-minded hunters, conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts to get a species back from the brink of extinction. But what happens when those goals have been achieved and the second phase of population recovery turns out to be the stumbling block no one expected it to be.

For the gritty Cape Mountain Zebra it has not been all plain sailing for the past 50 years, but things are looking up with the population healthier than ever. Today there are more acres dedicated to Zebra habitat than as little as 15 years ago, but that could change in the blink of an eye. To the many conservationists who have provided the much needed habitat and protection there needs to be reward for their risk and effort. The resale of Cape Mnt Zebra has reached its saturation point while existing populations are growing faster than the current available habitat. And while not all will agree with a hunting model, it paves the way to phase 2 of the recovery which will ensure continued sustainability of the greater Cape Mnt Zebra population. History has proven when hunters invest in a species they will flourish.

Our old friend, Cable Smith, did just that, pushing for change while pursuing his passion in hunting. Join the hunt. Join the conversation. Let’s all push for change and see the importation of Cape Mnt Zebra ease up into the US.