East African Professional Hunter’s Association
Encyclopedia
The East African Professional Hunter's Association (EAPHA) was an organization of East African white hunters founded in Nairobi
, Kenya
in 1934. Well known members included Philip Percival
, Harry Selby
, Sydney Downey
and Donald Ker
. Their motto was nec timor nec temeritas, or "neither fear nor foolhardiness." The Association formed out of a desire to regulate hunting in the wake of technological developments like the safari vehicle, which had made accessing remote hunting areas much easier. During its existence it was able to accomplish much to conserve East African wildlife and become perhaps one of the most respected societies in the world of its kind. The Association was disbanded in 1977 when Kenya outlawed all big game hunting.
triangle, a proposal that Kenya's chief game warden supported. The two also lobbied for a similar reserve across the boarder in the Serengeti
of Tanganyika
. Yet despite its work in conservationism the association was disbanded on the September 26, 1977 when Kenya officially outlawed all hunting within it's boarders.
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
in 1934. Well known members included Philip Percival
Philip Percival
Philip Hope Percival was a renowned white hunter and early safari guide in colonial Kenya. During his career he guided Teddy Roosevelt, Baron Rothschild, and Ernest Hemingway on African hunts. In fact, Hemingway modeled the fictional hunter Robert Wilson, in his story "“The Short Happy Life of...
, Harry Selby
Harry Selby
Harry Selby was a Scottish politician.A barber by trade, based in Glasgow, he became an active Trotskyist, joining the Revolutionary Socialist League. When this disintegrated, he became a leading figure in the Left Fraction...
, Sydney Downey
Sydney Downey
Sydney Downey was a British-Kenyan white hunter and safari pioneer. He learned the trade of guiding safari hunts from an older generation of white hunters, including his early mentor Philip Percival...
and Donald Ker
Donald Ker
Donald Ker was a famous Kenyan white hunter, safari guide and conservationist of British descent. As a young man he teamed up Sydney Downey to create Ker and Downey Ltd., one of the first guide companies to transition from hunting to photographic safaris...
. Their motto was nec timor nec temeritas, or "neither fear nor foolhardiness." The Association formed out of a desire to regulate hunting in the wake of technological developments like the safari vehicle, which had made accessing remote hunting areas much easier. During its existence it was able to accomplish much to conserve East African wildlife and become perhaps one of the most respected societies in the world of its kind. The Association was disbanded in 1977 when Kenya outlawed all big game hunting.
Early Years
EAPHA was founded on April 12, 1934 by a group of white hunters who had gathered at the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi Kenya. The founders were worried about the effects of technological developments on the wildlife populations of Kenya and sought to regulate the hunting industry there. For instance, the advances in automobile technology had enabled created access to remote wildlife areas. Within the first few years of its existence, the Association managed to get East Africa the most stringent game laws in the world. These laws included protecting the females of each species and banning night hunting and the use of dogs. The sale of game meat was also prohibited, as was the shooting of animals within close proximity of watering holes or of safari vehicles. In its early years it also continued to press authorities to create conservation areas for East African wildlife.1970s
By the 1970s individual countries had started forming their own hunter's associations, but none rivaled EAPHA in the extremity of its conservationism. EAPHA's members had become quite powerful in local affairs and began pushing even harder at that time to create conservation areas. Two of its members, Sydney Downey and Donald Ker began to lobby for the establishment of a game reserve that would include the entire Masai MaraMasai Mara
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is a large game reserve in south-western Kenya, which is effectively the northern continuation of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania...
triangle, a proposal that Kenya's chief game warden supported. The two also lobbied for a similar reserve across the boarder in the Serengeti
Serengeti
The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region in Africa. It is located in north Tanzania and extends to south-western Kenya between latitudes 1 and 3 S and longitudes 34 and 36 E. It spans some ....
of Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
. Yet despite its work in conservationism the association was disbanded on the September 26, 1977 when Kenya officially outlawed all hunting within it's boarders.