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THE LUANGWA VALLEY GAME CROPPING SCHEME.
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Background: COMMENTARY NOTES: From the state of the degradation of the vegetation and game counts in the Luangwa Valley of the Eastern Province of Zambia, the Zambia Government Game Department has been able to assess the extent of the over-population of animals.The game cropping project which is now being developed has been planned as a normal management procedure to reduce the animal population to the carrying capacity of the land.It is as much a form of conservation of the habitat (the soil and vegetation), and of the animal herds as any other conservation measure, and it is essential for the long-term welfare of the animals themselves.Detailed scientific surveys will continue for many years to come to assess the carrying capacity of the country and to determine the precise number of animals on the land.As long as the area is under scientific management it is expected that game cropping will continue.Sound management ensures optimism conditions for the animals, and the surplus of animals over carrying capacity will be drained by cropping.

The methods used for cropping will consist of drug guns which ensures the killing of animals in the most humane manner with a minimum of disturbance in this important tourist area.Cropping will be carried out only in areas away from the normal tourist routes, and the normal herds of tame animals which are viewed by tourists will not be disturbed.