All that is Nature Conservation
in Swaziland today began 40 years ago with the drive
and tenacity of the Reilly
family to arrest the plunder of the country’s wildlife
heritage, to provide safe haven for the Kingdom’s
wildlife and to restore those species which had become
locally extinct. In their determined mission the Reilly’s
were strongly supported by King Sobhuza II. That support
is now solidly entrenched and promoted by His Majesty
King Mswati III, Ngwenyama of Swaziland, whose passion
for all things natural is matched only by his compassion
for the wild creatures of his Kingdom and by his commitment
to the wellbeing of his people.
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary (1961), Hlane Royal National
Park (1967), Swaziland National Trust Commission (1972),
Malolotja Nature Reserve (1974), Mlawula Nature Reserve
(1976), Mkhaya Game Reserve (1980) – these were
all the brainchildren of the originators of the Nature
Conservation movement in the Kingdom, who initiated them.
The Kingdom of Swaziland’s Big Game Parks (BGP)
today represents the culmination of 40 years of successful
Nature Conservation in Swaziland. BGP is a private organization
which administers Hlane Royal National Park, Mlilwane
Wildlife Sanctuary and Mkhaya Game Reserve. Today BGP
has grown to become the officially delegated Administrative
and Management Authority of the Game Act, CITES and all
international agreements and conventions on wildlife,
and BGP represents the Kingdom of Swaziland on all such
fora. Big Game Parks operates under the Auspices of the
King’s Office and is directly responsible to the
Head of State. This may be the precedent to, and currently
the only example of privatization of Government legislation
in practice.
It says much for Swaziland’s commitment to Nature
Conservation that this National responsibility is vested
in the portfolio of the Head of State, thereby carrying
the status and the honour of being overseen by the Highest
Authority in the land.
The title “Big Game Parks” was chosen for
it’s marketing values and in no way reflects the
importance of one species over another. All creatures
great and small are important, as are the habitats which
support them. But, because in the absence of government
subsidy each Park has to be self-sustaining, revenues
from tourism are vital. While most tourists are attracted
by Big Game and will pay for it, they are less likely
to pay to see plants, beetles and other smaller animals – hence
the title. It is a matter of pride that Big Game Parks
has achieved self-sustainability without ever compromising
conservation ethics.
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