It was unheard of that the hunting federation FKNK and Birdlife could ever work together, despite my approach in such a direction way back while I served on the Ornis committee. However, time proved me right and the only way forward is for both NGOs to fight illegal hunting activity and bring to justice any individual breaking the law.

Birdlife, through its executive director Steve Micklewright, is inviting hunters to join their organisation. There is nothing wrong in such an initiative but why do not Birdlife and FKNK join forces and fight illegalities?

The latest incidents showed one and all that they both mean business and actions were taken to deter any future offenders from thinking of breaking the law. Other isolated illegalities will still happen, but with the cooperation of all concerned including the law abiding hunter, illegalities will eventually be wiped out.

This is the only way forward and I hope that no other hunting organisation will give shelter to anyone breaking the law once he is disciplined by FKNK. No hunting licences can be paid unless hunters form part of a hunting organisation, therefore once a hunter is banned from membership he is automatically banned from acquiring a hunting licence.

There are obviously issues on which Birdlife and FKNK are wide apart but once FKNK keep penalising hunting offenders and Birdlife accept that legal hunting is permissible I see no reason why the two NGOs should not be more tolerant towards each other.