BLOOD ORIGINS | EPISODE 84 | “SNOW”
Episode 84
Back in 2020 there was a serious push to try and eradicate Himalayan Tahr from New Zealand. Yes they are a feral species, but one that was gifted to the country, and one that brings significant economic investment into New Zealand, and challenges the physical and mental spirits of hunters all over the world. Additionally, their numbers (which are up for debate) represent a significant portion of the Himalayan Tahr in the world, given the local extirpation in a lot of the Tahr’s range in Nepal. The small population is a fraction of the size of that in New Zealand.
Snow Hewetson was the chairman of the NZ Tahr Foundation at the time and he with the help of Blood Origins and others pushed back on the Minister at the time, Eugenie Sage, and successfully put a moratorium on the cull. Snow, as you will hear, and all hunters, understand that Tahr need management to avoid over grazing and impacting the alpine environment. But there is a way to do that correctly, that involves all stakeholders, and benefits all, including those that do not hunt.
We are profoundly grateful for Snow, his dedication, and more importantly his friendship.