The South African Conservation Success Story (Hardcover)

This 64-page book, filled with many beautiful photographs, is produced by Peter Flack Productions. It traces the history of conservation and, at times, the lack thereof, from 1652 to the present. It is based on the very successful documentary by the same name which was launched in high definition DVD in March 2011. Canadian wildlife biologist, Shane Mahoney, SANParks CEO, Dr. David Mabunda, and Peter Flack, a lawyer, businessman, conservationist and retired game rancher, contributed to the content. In the first part, the title traces the real causes – commercial hunting and farmers killing for food and to make way for domestic livestock as well as drought, disease, war and government intervention – behind the dramatic decline in wildlife numbers to barely half a million game animals by 1964 and then what gave rise to the dramatic recovery to some 19 million animals by 2005. In part two, it examines the role of the private sector and government in the various initiatives which assisted in this recovery before taking a careful look at current events and the challenges facing wildlife and its conservation in modern day South Africa. The book sets out, for the first time, the real facts behind the quiet conservation revolution that has swept across the country over the last 100 years or so. The rationale has been to provide the reader with a factual foundation upon which to base sound decisions affecting wildlife and its conservation in the belief that, if these decisions are taken, wildlife will be with us in South Africa providing opportunities for all in perpetuity.