Web survey for wildlife photographers

Besides being a wildlife photographer, I am also studying Wildlife Management at the University of Pretoria (South Africa). As part of this (research) master program, I need to conduct a scientific research project. My research is aimed at the management of games reserves in South Africa. The topic of my study is to analyse if there is an economic difference between managing a game reserve specifically for wildlife photography as compared to hunting. At the same time I would like to analyse what each of these options could contribute to employment and biodiversity.

As part of this research project, I have made a web survey for wildlife photographers intending to visit South Africa. Through this survey I would like to learn more about the profile of such photographers and the wishes and demands of these photographers with regards to their accomodation at the reserves.

I would like to invite all wildlife photographers intending to travel to South Africa to fill in this survey. Please only fill in the survey if you do intend to make such a trip, or have already made one. All information in the survey is completely anonymous.

The address of the web survey is:
http://www.wildpicture.com/uop/photographer_survey1.htm

Regards and thank in advance,
Hans

Hans —

There are going to be a lot of economic differences, depending on which track the reserve has to take in regard to the type of conservation being applied.

If you are going for a core reserve under continental conservation concepts, human access is going to be highly limited, and hunting will be left entirely to the non-human predator guild. Core buffer regions would provide for access by photography tours, but would still be out of bounds for human hunters.

If, on the other hand, you are providing a game reserve, you are going to cut down on the ability to get close enough to many of the animals for good photography opportunities as a result of the animals associating humans with danger. You also will likely need to control predator numbers to assure greater chances of hunting success, and will thereby alter your biodiversity regime . . . and is that something that you want to do?

I would suppose you can provide equivalent employment opportunities on similar scales regardless of what route the management of a reserve takes.

No judgements in either direction, of course . . . these are choices that managers will have to make.

Hans - I just filled it out based on the trip I actually took, and what we considered at the time. I might fill things out differently if I was planning to go back soon. Hope that's OK.

And the lodge size question was tough - it's hard to relate to anything. I was at Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, Kruger, and St. Lucia. Gauging how the size of those parks affected them is really tough for someone who's just on vacation.

Thanks so far to everybody who has filled in the questionaire. New photographers are still welcome.

With regards to the size of the reserve. Indeed, that is tough to answer. My purpose is to see whether there are photographers willing to stay at smaller reserves specialized for wildlife photography (with special facilities, courses, hides, safe to walk around) or if they only want to stay at the large parks and reserves with the big five.

So far this posting has been viewed nearly 500 times. If there are people who have traveled to southern Africa or think about such a trip, please feel free to participate in the survey. new answers are still welcome.
http://www.wildpicture.com/uop/photographer_survey1.htm