POSITION PAPER
COLOUR VARIANTS AND HYBRIDS
ORIENTATION
At an industry workshop on May 7, 2012, attended by the National Dept. of Environmental Affairs,
WRSA, SA Hunters, PHASA, academics and a number of game Ranchers, consensus was reached
in respect of colour variants and crossbreeding.
COLOUR VARIANTS
Colour variants are a natural occurrence, e.g. the Golden Gnu was first described in the Tuli Block in
1930 and was referred to as a "Vos Wildebeest" while the black impala occurred naturally in the
Marken Limpopo Province area. Golden Oryx were historically widespread over Namibia, and
currently approximately 350 are left in South Africa and Namibia. Black and white Springbok have
been around for centuries.
Emotionally, without a scientific bases at all, colour variants are wrongly condemned as 'man-made
genetic manipulation' and a 'threat to biodiversity'.
Factually colour variants are certainly not genetic manipulations or man-made, but the present
increase in numbers is a function of line breeding (not inbreeding) of scarce animals.
The National Department of Environmental Affairs commissioned the National Scientific Authority to
perform a scientific study on the question of whether colour variations are a risk to biodiversity.
The National Scientific Authority concluded that no evidence could be found to indicate a risk to
biodiversity.
Given the scarcity of colour variations in a number of species, the prices for these animals are much
higher than those of the more common colours. The economic principle of market demand, given the
limited supply, would indicate value for money.
INDUSTRY POSITION
The industry categorically rejects:
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Any crossbreeding of species or sub-species.
Any genetically detrimental conditions such as erythrism, albinism, dwalfism etc.
Forced artificial colour variants as a function of wrong breeding practices.
Any practice such as intensive genetic manipulation using wrong techniques to enhance trophy
sizes and to produce hybrids.
The industry supports game ranching practices to protect and reproduce natural colour variations and
allow the market to dictate prices and numbers required. Dysfunctional colour variations will
be rejected by the hunting market.
To ensure sustainability of colour variants it is expected that:
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The difference should be distinctly different from the common colour.
The colour would not be detrimental to the species.
The colour must be reproducible.
There will be no distorted horn on such colour variant.
The industry committed itself to future scientific, peer group-reviewed research to continuously
inform management practices.
The industry remains unconditionally committed to natural semi-extensive ranching practices in South
Africa.
TRADING OF 'SPLIT' ANIMALS
Buyers of 'split' animals should insist on a recognized DNA test certificate from the seller, to confirm
the authenticity of such splits.
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION, EMBRYO TRANSFER AND CLONING TECHNIQUES
The industry unanimously decided that in the interest of biodiversity and the local and international
hunting industry, techniques such as artificial insemination, embryo transfer or cloning in or of wild
animals should be reserved only for the preservation of threatened species where the principle has
been scientifically confirmed. This should only be done with the explicit approval and permit from the
Director General: Dept. of Environmental Affairs.
For commercial wildlife ranching purposes, the industry strongly advocates against the
utilization of any of the aforementioned artificial reproductive techniques (ART).