Pictured: DSC President Rick Warren joined DSC Life Member J.D. Yates (not pictured) on Angola’s first
sanctioned safari hunt following an 18-year absence of legal, regulated hunting.
There was a time when Angola’s vast landscapes supported extraordinary populations of African wildlife. From elephants to buffalo to the magnificent giant sable antelope, the country possessed remarkable natural diversity.
But when civil war engulfed Angola in 1975, wildlife conservation became another casualty. National parks lost protection, wildlife management systems deteriorated, and poaching took a devastating toll. By the time peace returned in 2002, wildlife populations had been severely depleted. But even after decades of devastation, nature can recover when given the protection, resources, and commitment it needs.
Angola has now taken an important step in the recovery of its wildlife by re-instituting legal, regulated hunting. The country has an opportunity to establish a wildlife management system that recognizes the value of living wildlife, protects its habitat, and creates meaningful benefits for the communities that share the landscape.
It is a vision closely aligned with the Rowland Ward Foundation’s belief that sustainable, fair-chase hunting and local indigenous communities can work together to secure a lasting future for wildlife.
From an Expo in Texas to the African Bush
The story began nearly a year ago at the inaugural Dallas Safari Club (DSC) Summer Expo & Foundation Gala. Representatives from the Angola Hunters Association joined DSC and Conservation Force to announce an important milestone: Angola was preparing to welcome the return of legal, regulated hunting.
It was an exciting announcement, but rebuilding a hunting industry after nearly two decades requires more than good intentions. It takes partnerships, resources, experience, and a long-term commitment to responsible wildlife management.
To help move that vision forward, the Angola Hunters Association donated a 14-day plains game safari to be auctioned at the event. DSC President Rick Warren placed the winning bid, directing much-needed financial support back to the association and its efforts to establish a sustainable hunting program. Thus, the conservation benefits began before the hunters even arrived in Angola.
Earlier this year, Warren and fellow DSC Life Member J.D. Yates traveled to Angola to participate in one of the country’s first sanctioned safaris in 18 years.
The safari presented its share of challenges, from travel delays to difficult journeys across Angola’s rugged landscape. Yet the warm welcome from the locals reflected a genuine enthusiasm for the return of safari hunting. Over the course of their time in Angola, the hunters found success on common waterbuck, springbok, Damara dik-dik, Angolan bush duiker, and Southern impala. But the real achievement went far beyond the hunt itself.
A Future for Wildlife
Across much of Africa, wildlife faces a difficult reality. Wild animals compete with agriculture, livestock, expanding settlements, and other demands on the land. When wildlife generates economic opportunities through sustainable hunting, however, it can help support local employment, provide revenue for wildlife management and anti-poaching efforts, and create an incentive to for the locals to maintain natural habitat.
Conservation is not simply about protecting animals. It is about recognizing that the long-term survival of wildlife is closely connected to the well-being of local communities. When communities benefit from healthy wildlife populations, conservation becomes something in which local people have a direct interest.
Re-establishing a successful hunting program will not happen overnight in Angola. Wildlife populations must be monitored, hunting quotas carefully managed, and conservation benefits translated into meaningful improvements for communities and habitat.
The involvement of organizations such as Dallas Safari Club (DSC) and Conservation Force, together with the commitment of the Angola Hunters Association, demonstrates what can be accomplished when conservation-minded partners work toward a shared goal.
Ultimately, the success of Angola’s renewed hunting program will not be measured solely by the number of safaris conducted or trophies taken, but by the wildlife that remains, the habitat that is protected, and the opportunities created for the people who call that land home.
