scholarly journals Enjoying extinction: philanthrocapitalism, jouissance, and 'excessive environmentourism' in the South African rhino poaching crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stasja Koot
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
South African ◽  
National Park ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
The Political ◽  
Business Principles ◽  
Excessive Consumption ◽  
Rhino Poaching

From 2007 to 2015, rhino poaching grew rapidly in and around Kruger National Park, South Africa. And though poaching numbers have declined since then, the 'poaching crisis' and its consequences continue to influence rhetoric and practice in the area, including continuing public outcries that the rhino is close to extinction. This discourse of extinction is also prevalent among the luxurious tourist lodges on private nature reserves of the Greater Kruger Area that attract wealthy tourists. In response, some lodges started initiatives in which tourists can join the fight against rhino poaching. These tourist activities share important similarities with 'philanthrocapitalism',in which wealthy philanthropists address social and environmental challenges drawing on the same business principles that made them successful. Based on research on the tourism industry, I explore the political ecology of such high-end, 'environmentourist' activities. I argue that philanthropic environmental tourist activities are based on a reductionist articulation of the rhino poaching crisis. They de-politicize it from its socio-economic and historical context and are 'excessive', in that they produce and legitimize exorbitant forms of privatized, luxurious tourism and consumerism as a solution for social and environmental crises. Moreover,such 'excessive environmentourism' allows wealthy tourists to enjoy 'doing good'in a very specific way, best captured by the term 'jouissance.' Jouissance is a particular type of ambivalent enjoyment that includes fascination with dark and horrific elements (i.e. poached rhinos and the idea that these animals are at the brink of extinction). I conclude that jouissance functions as a core motivation for wealthy tourists to engage in touristic experiences precisely because it enables them to believe they can overcome the dark sides of their own excesses ironically by 'doing good', grounded in excessive consumption.

scholarly journals The relationship between drought and tourist arrivals: A case study of Kruger National Park, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fhumulani I. Mathivha ◽  
Ndivhuwo N. Tshipala ◽  
Zanele Nkuna
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Rainfall Data ◽  
Correlation Relationship ◽  
Standardised Precipitation Index ◽  
Tourism Attractions

National parks around the world have been recognised as important sources of nature experiences for both local and international visitors. In South Africa, national parks are similarly important recreational and nature tourism attractions. They offer visitors an unparalleled diversity of tourism opportunities, including game viewing, bush walks and exposure to culture and history. South African National Parks (SANParks), established in 1926, is one of the world’s leading conservation and scientific research bodies and a leading agent in maintaining the country’s indigenous natural environment. The study aims to analyse the correlation between drought and the number of tourist arrivals to the Kruger National Park (KNP). Rainfall data, as well as data on tourist arrivals at KNP for the period from 1963 to 2015 were obtained from the South African Weather Services (SAWS) and SANParks, respectively. Rainfall data were used to determine the drought years at the KNP through computing the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) for various stations around the park. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used as a statistical measure of the strength of a linear relationship between drought and tourist arrivals. The results showed that KNP experienced both negative and positive tourist arrivals, although the former was the case, tourist arrivals showed an increasing trend. The correlation relationship showed that 19.36% of the drought years corresponded to a negative change in tourist arrivals to the park. The results obtained confirm that the tourism industry is a fragile industry which is prone to environmental, social and economic state of a region.

scholarly journals A note on the sex ratio of Steenbok Raphicerus Campestrts in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L. Penzhorn
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
South African ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Field Observations

Field observations on steenbok in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park reveal a 1 : 1 sex ratio. This is corroborated by observations in the Kruger National Park and by a survey of steenbok material in two South African museums.

scholarly journals The status of rhinoceroses in South African National Parks

Koedoe ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam M. Ferreira ◽  
Charlene Bissett ◽  
Carly R. Cowell ◽  
Angela Gaylard ◽  
Cathy Greaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
The South ◽  
South Central ◽  
The Status ◽  
Annual Population ◽  
Block Based

African rhinoceroses (rhinos) experienced a poaching onslaught since 2008 with the epicentre in South Africa where most of the world’s rhinos occur. South African national parks, under the management of South African National Parks (SANParks), are custodian to 49% of South Africa’s white and 31% of the country’s black rhinos. We collated information on rhino population sizes in seven national parks from 2011 to 2015. We include and report on rhino surveys in Kruger National Park during 2014 and 2015. Southwestern black rhinos increased over the study period, which allows SANParks to achieve its contribution to South Africa’s 2020 target of 260 individuals. South-central black rhinos declined over the study period because of poaching in the Kruger National Park, making it difficult for SANParks to realise a 9% increase per annum for its expected contribution to the South African target of 2800 individuals. For southern white rhinos, SANParks requires 5% annual growth for its contribution to the South African target of 20 400 individuals. To continue to evaluate the achievement of these targets, SANParks needs annual population estimates relying on total counts, mark-recapture techniques and block-based sample counts to track trends in rhino populations. SANParks’ primary challenge in achieving its contribution to South Africa’s rhino conservation targets is associated with curbing poaching in Kruger National Park.Conservation implications: The status and trends of rhino species in SANParks highlight key challenges associated with achieving the national targets of South Africa. Conservation managers will need to improve the protection of southern white rhino, while the Department of Environmental Affairs need to be made aware of the challenges specifically associated with not achieving targets for south-central black rhino. Outcomes for south-western black rhino have already realised and the good conservation efforts should continue.

Exploring mindfulness and stories in tourist experiences

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianna Moscardo
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
South African ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
National Park ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
New Framework

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework for understanding tourist experiences based on concepts from evolutionary, cognitive and social psychology. This framework integrates concepts from mindfulness theory and story-telling theory and seeks to better explain the nature of tourist experiences. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews some core conceptual approaches to understanding the concept of experience as a psychological driver in tourism. It will then set a series of research questions and explore some of these through a qualitative analysis of tourist stories and experiences in two South African destinations – Kruger National Park and Soweto. This analysis combines participant observation, content analysis of promotional literature and tourist blogs. Findings Evidence supports a set of propositions derived from integrating mindfulness and storytelling theory. Stories do play a significant role in encouraging mindful visitors and supporting more positive tourist experiences. Originality/value This paper combines two different approaches to understanding tourist experiences to create a new framework for understanding the cognitive processes involved in tourist experiences and how these link to outcomes.

Soil clay content and fire frequency affect clustering in trees in South African savannas

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Groen ◽  
Frank van Langevelde ◽  
Claudius A.D.M. van de Vijver ◽  
Navashni Govender ◽  
Herbert H.T. Prins
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Soil Clay Content ◽  
The Impact

Abstract:In this paper, we investigate which factors determine tree clustering in Southern African savannas. This was tested by measuring clustering of trees using the T-squared sampling method in plots of the Kruger National Park experimental burning programme in South Africa. Fire return interval is the main treatment in these plots, but also several auxiliary determining parameters like clay content in the soil, diameter of tree canopies, understorey composition, tree species diversity and average annual rainfall were measured while sampling. In the Kruger National Park 48 plots distributed over four different landscape types and with three different burning treatments (never, once every 3 y and annually) were sampled. First, we related the clustering of trees to these environmental variables. When looking at the most abundant species in each plot, the analysis revealed that clustering is mainly correlated with clay content in the soil. This analysis also showed that fire frequency had a positive effect on the clustering of tree species that are not very abundant. We suggest that less abundant species might be less resistant to fire and therefore adopt a mechanism of clustering to exclude grass fires under their canopy. Finally, we tested the effect of clustering on the impact of fire on trees by analysing the relationship between the distance of a tree to its nearest neighbour and its canopy diameter. We found that clustering reduces the damaging effect of fire on trees. Our study contributes to understanding of savanna functioning by showing which processes are relevant in the distribution of savanna trees.

scholarly journals Notes on the economic use of the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
W.G. Engelbrecht ◽  
P.T. Van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
South African ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Social Benefits ◽  
African Society ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Agricultural Use ◽  
Economic Use

In an economic analysis the present use of the most important national park in South Africa, (Kruger National Park) is compared with the use of the same land for agricultural purposes. The present use of the Kruger National Park creates substantially more net social benefits to society than agricultural use. The question remains whether these benefits are equitably distributed at various levels of the South African society.

scholarly journals The General Geology of the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I.C. Schutte
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Regional Mapping ◽  
Geological Map ◽  
Age Relations ◽  
Surficial Deposits ◽  
Geological Units ◽  
Geological Formations ◽  
Eastern Edge

Geological units and new data gathered during regional mapping of the Kruger National Park are summarised. A simplified geological map is presented in conjunction with this paper. A large number of new geological formations have been recognised in the course of this regional mapping and new names have been proposed for these units. Some of these names have not yet been officially recognised by the South African Committee for Stratigraphy (SACS). On-going work by the Geological Survey and other organisations is likely to lead to further additions to and refinement of the data presented in this paper. The Goudplaats and Makhutswi Gneisses are the oldest rocks known in the park. They form the sialic basement of the various greenstone belts represented by the Murchison and Barberton sequences. The age relations of the Orpen Gneiss* have not yet been established. Tonalitic and trondjemitic gneisses constitute the first phase of intrusion of the Nelspruit Granite Suite. The Shamiriri, Macetse* and Baderoukwe Granites, and the Cunning Moor Tonalite* intrudes rocks of Swazian age during the succeeding Randian Erathem. At the commencement of the Mokolian Erathem syenite of the Phalaborwa Complex intruded the Makhutswi Gneiss. Subsequently extrusion of lavas and deposition of sediments of the Soutpansberg Group of Mokolian age took place in a fault-bounded trough in the northern part of the park. Diabase intruded the Group in the form of sills. Pre-Karoo dykes of various ages occur throughout the area. The Timbavati Gabbro represents the youngest Pre-Karoo intrusion. The Late Palaeozoic to Mesozoic Karoo Sequence extends from north to south along the eastern edge of the park and consists of sedimentary rocks overlain by basalt and rhyolite. The last phase of Karoo volcanism is represented by granophyre, gabbro and microgranite. The sedimentary Malvernia Formation of Cretaceous age unconformably overlies the basalt in the northern part of the park. Quarternary surficial deposits blanket the older rocks in places. * Not yet approved by SACS.

scholarly journals Breeding of the Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus in the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A.B Daneel
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Comparative Biology

Mundy (1982, The comparative biology of southern African Vultures, Vulture Study Group, Johannesburg.) states that records exist for only 22 nests of the Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus in Rhodesia, of which he visited 15, while in only three nests were the eggs measured. He makes no specific mention of egg measurements from nests south of the Limpopo River, although the average of 10 "Southern African" eggs is given as 74,72 (Range 68,7 - 78,1) by 55,89 (Range 54,0 - 57,8) mm. Nevertheless, five South African breeding records exist, all from the Kruger.

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